woman sitting on a beach reading a book — Woman relaxing with a book on a beach. Photo by Chen Mizrach on Unsplash

Are the post-holiday blues just a brief crash from the sugar-hit joy of travel? Or is there something deeper to the feelings of sadness we experience when returning home from a trip. Recently I came back from a month long trip to Laos and Thailand. It was an incredible experience full of adventure that included riding through the mountains of Northern Thailand on a motorbike, experiencing the beautiful landscapes of Laos and island hopping in Southern Thailand. To say coming home hit me hard is an understatement. I went from a month of euphoria, where everyday was filled with wonder to a feeling of utter sadness as soon as I stepped through my front door.

It's natural to feel out of synch for a while as you get back to your normal routine. But if a month goes by and your wanderlust turns into wandering what your life is about, it’s time to ask yourself - why? In this blog, I’ll be sharing what i’ve been doing to get my mojo back. From booking another holiday escape to creating something out of my holiday photos, there’s plenty of ideas to help lift your spirits. Personally I’ve been digging deep into why I always feel restless and at times, quite sad, when I return from a trip. I’ve been setting goals to take care of myself and ensuring I do something that brings me joy at least once a day. So grab a cuppa and let me guide you through these practical tips that will help you overcome the post-holiday blues and make your everyday more joyful.

Long tail wooden boats on a beach in Thailand — Long Tail Boats on Phra Nang Beach, Krabi, Thailand

1) Book Another Holiday

It goes without saying, one of the quickest ways to lift your mood and get over the post-travel blues is to book another holiday. Whether you're dreaming of exploring new destinations or revisiting your favourite spots, planning your next getaway gives you something to look forward to. Work, family and other commitments of everyday life can easily sap your energy and time. Life can quickly feel rather mundane especially if you’ve transitioned straight from holiday mode to work mode. So having another holiday to look forward to can take the stress out of feeling trapped in a vicious cycle of routine. As the Brazilian novelist Paul Coelho once said “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.”

Booking your next trip allows you to look forward, rather than dwell on what you miss about your holiday or travels. This way you can focus on ensuring your next future trip is as memorable as the last. If you’ve blown most of your budget on a long summer holiday, why not think about booking somewhere closer to home. A weekend away or short city break doesn’t have to break the bank. Travelling midweek or outside of the high season and choosing destinations where your money goes far, can save you money. In the end, it’s about having something to focus on that keeps you motivated and positive.

2) Be Creative With Your Holiday Snaps

One of the best ways to relive your holiday memories is by creating something out of your holiday photos. Whether it's a coffee table photo album or a scrapbook, taking the time to organise and display your photos, keeps your memories fresh. Not only will this keep those wanderlust travel moments alive, it’s a great way of sharing your trip with friends and family. I’m currently sorting through my photos so that I can create gallery walls around the house. If like me, you travel a lot and have thousands of images, it’s best to keep gallery walls simple and create a theme around the images you want to display. Choose one destination or a theme like nature, beach or city and only display your best photos. Looking for ideas on how to create a gallery wall? I love Poster Store for inspiration. I have no affiliation with them but they have great photo art that you can use along with your own holiday photos to create elegant and striking gallery walls.

Food night market in Thailand — A typical food night market in Thailand

3) Recreate Your Favourite Holiday Meal

One of the best ways to relive the joy and nostalgia of a past holiday is by recreating your favourite holiday meal. Food has a unique ability to transport us back in time, evoking memories and emotions associated with special moments. Whether it's the taste of freshly caught seafood from a beachside vacation or a cooking class you took in a faraway land, preparing and enjoying these meals can bring back cherished memories. Why not make a night of it and invite family and friends around for a themed dinner. You can showcase your culinary skills and and share stories from your travels until their eyes glaze over!

4) Armchair Travel - Watch Inspiring Travel Shows

One of the best ways to satisfy your wanderlust and keep the holiday spirit alive is by watching inspiring travel shows. Whether you're reminiscing about past trips or dreaming about future adventures, these videos can transport you to different destinations and inspire you to travel to new places and try new things. Some of my favourite travel shows that have influenced what I eat, where I go and what I do include the award winning travel shows like Globetrekker for pure nostalgia. The late Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and Parts Unknown travel series, which was a brilliant culinary travelogue. My latest trip was inspired after watching Youtuber Paddy Boyle in his Thailand and Laos series.

For me, travel videos offer a visual escape that quench my wanderlust when I simply can’t drop everything and explore the world. I find them immersive and they offer valuable insights into local customs, hidden gems, and alternative, off-the -beaten-path destinations. They’re great for gathering ideas and creating a bucket list of experiences that fuel mywanderlust and help with trip planning, Travel videos can also be a form of relaxation. They’re like visual books, where my mind can escape and wander.

5) Set Goals To Take Care Of Yourself

I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely more active when I’m on holiday. I walk more, eat healthier, drink more water and in general feel amazing. I have way more energy and for someone who loves the summer, my body feels better in hot humid climates. On holiday we have time to take care of ourselves. Each hour feels slower when we’re away and it can feel like we can fit in so much more into our days.

Coming home can feel overwhelming. We slip into our usual routines and try to figure out how we got from running on a palm-fringed beach just a few days ago to running for the train on a rainy Monday morning! It can also be tricky juggling time for ourselves in between work and family commitments. I’ve been trying to establish a daily self-care routine. This includes at least half an hours meditation before sleep, an hours walk everyday and simply taking time out to relax and unwind. I find it helps me create a sense of calm and allows me to focus on other things.

If like me, you use your holidays as an excuse to get healthy and active. Don’t give up when you come back. If you tried a yoga class whilst you were away and loved it, find a local yoga class and keep it up. Holidays can be a good opportunity to kickstart a healthier way of life at home, even if we’ve allowed ourselves to indulge whilst away.

6) Look After Your Mental Wellbeing

Holidays do wonders for your mental well being. They reignite our sense of wonder and give us time to slow down and live in the moment. For most they’re a temporary escape from the stresses of the world and allow us to reset our bodies and mind. Whilst I was away, I used to get up at the crack of dawn just so that I could see the sunrise on the beach and feel fully present in the moment. I’d climb on to a rock overlooking the ocean and listen to some meditative prayers and be grateful for being able to travel and witness how beautiful this world is. I’ll always cherish those moments.

Meditation apps are a great way looking after your mental wellbeing. I use Aura - a paid mindfulness and wellbeing app that has an endless library of tracks, coaches and therapists that help with everything from sleep, stress, therapy, coaching and more. Post-vacation blues can be made worse when we only focus on a “grass is greener” attitude. So practicing gratitude and meditation gives you a sense of perspective to acknowledge that travel is a privilege few have. I have no affiliation with Aura so I’m not getting paid for recommending it. I just think it’s an amazing resource for looking after yourself.

For those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the end of a summer holiday or the summer season is a reminder that the dark days of Autumn and Winter are not far away. Those who suffer from SAD, sometimes known as winter depression, experience a low mood, loss of interest in activities, a feeling of despair and generally not themselves during the winter months. It can be debilitating and impact your everyday mood and life. So do seek help if this is you.

7) Don’t Stop Having Adventures

Most people feel they’re a different person when they’re on holiday. They’re more adventurous, more engaging and open-minded. They’re eager to explore and discover new experiences, eat different foods or take part in activities they wouldn’t do back home. It’s like we save our most amazing and true self for when we’re away. It’s such a shame we only do that on holiday!

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can’t be adventurous even when you’re not on holiday. A few years ago, when the Covid restrictions meant we couldn’t travel abroad, I went on an amazing road trip around the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands. Now I’ve been on some fantastic holidays and experienced breathtaking scenery around the world. But I have to say, I was pleasantly shocked at how beautiful Scotland was. It truly felt like another world and I’m so glad I went. Since then I’ve ventured on long weekend hiking trips in Wales and The Peak District and I’ve got more planned. It just goes to show that adventures don’t stop just because you’ve come home. Pick up a local guide book and explore your own neighbourhood as a tourist would. Visit a museum, some famous landmarks or join a local walking club. Keep the wanderlust alive.

Of course, having adventures at home is not just about travel. Some people love getting back to their daily routine, but once in a while it’s good to disrupt it and add some spontaneity. Take up a hobby like photography, join a tai chi class or start a travel blog where you can share your love of travel with others.

Friends with arms round each other sitting in a golden field — Friends and family will always lift your spirits.

8) Spend Time With Family And Friends

There’s nothing like catching up with family and friends when you return. Sharing your holiday pictures and adventures is a good way of not only reliving those joyful moments but getting things off your chest so to speak. If you’re feeling down about coming back, friends always lift your spirits and who knows you might end up planning a girls holiday or a girly weekend spa break!

One thing I would avoid is getting carried away with your travel stories and becoming a travel bore. When I came back from travelling for a year, I made the mistake of talking about it too much. It had such a profound effect on me, how could I not share it all the amazing experiences I’d been through! Let’s just say there were a lot of polite smiles and glazed eyes! Though friends and family love hearing about your holiday adventures, they can only relate to a certain level. So make sure you’re inclusive with your holiday conversations.

Connecting with other travellers keeps the wanderlust alive

9) Connect With Other Travellers

There are so many ways to connect with people from all over the world who enjoy holidays, travel and adventure. Social media platforms like Facebook has countless travel groups that give you the opportunity to connect with likeminded people. You can draw on your own travel experiences and offer holiday tips and advice on travel destinations. Whether you’re a solo female travellers, a family who loves exploring or a couple who loves road trips - there’s something for every type of traveller.

Joining other social groups like running or hiking groups in your local area is also a great way of meeting like-minded people, exploring your area and getting out and about. Returning home can sometimes feel as if our world has become smaller. We spend more time inside as opposed to outside when we’re on holiday. We feel trapped in busy routines and long for space and to get out in nature. It’s all about widening your horizons, spending more time outside and realising that you can create joyful moments in your everyday life.

10) Still Feeling Sad? - Ask Yourself Why

Holidays are a wonderful experience. We usually come home feeling relaxed and happy. However, memories of beautiful holiday can sometimes make us feel resentful. We start comparing our levels of happiness on holiday to how we feel at home. But we have to remember that how we feel on holiday is more of a euphoric level of happiness that we don’t feel in our day to day lives. Frustration or sadness can often be for other reasons such as not being happy at work, in relationships or if you feel there are factors that are limiting your dreams of travel such as family responsibilities.

Travel can help us gain a different perspective on our lives. So returning home can lead us to reassess or even question the quality of our life. I’ve made some major life decisions whilst I’ve been on holidays. In fact, my business Jewelled Buddha was started after a year of travelling around Asia. So I take my reflections on life very seriously when I’m away! Being away gives me the opportunity to briefly step outside of my life and view it from a more objective angle. If you’ve been doing this and still feeling discontented, talk to friends and family. If you think you may be depressed seek out a healthcare professional.

Saying that, you may realise that you actually want to move abroad to work or take a sabbatical to travel and explore the world. You may be feeling that your current job is uninspiring and your travels have opened up a world of exciting opportunities. . If every time you return from a holiday, you dread coming home or have even considered delaying your flight home, it’s time to make some changes to your life. Do you love the thrill and unpredictability of being surrounded by new cultures, languages and people? Perhaps you’re always watching travel shows at home and dream of immersing yourself in other places to widen your horizons. These are all signs that you may want to take time out and explore the world.

It’s normal to feel out of sorts for a while when we return from a trip. Taking care of ourselves both mentally and physically can help to alleviate a lot of symptoms which can arise from transitioning from a heightened state of happiness to a more “normal” state of being. Surrounding ourselves with family and friends, staying positive about life and keeping that sense of adventure and wonder, even at home all helps. If your post-holiday blues linger far too long and you think you may be depressed, reach out to friends and family or your GP, who will be able to point you in the right direction. You may discover that in fact, what you really want in life is not at home, but on the other side of the world. `Holidays open up a whole new world of experiences and knowledge just waiting for you to explore. It changes who you are, deepens your respect and connection to the outside world and teaches you many a lesson.

As for me, my heart always lies on the other side of the world - wherever that may be.

The writer Miriam Beard once said “Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” So if that’s what you want. What are you waiting for? Make a plan, put things in place and make it happen. Life’s too short not to.

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