I have to write about how to deal with post-travel blues. That feeling of absolute rock bottom lowness that is experienced after a period of travel and experience is absolutely real. I have often experienced it, having moved around and traveled a lot but I don’t think it has ever hit me harder than when I recently arrived back in Wellington after spending two months with my family in the UK and traveling in Europe. It’s the feeling of “what am I doing with my life”? “why am I here”? and just generally feeling miserable after a period of intense adrenaline and good times.

Post travel blues or as the Aussies call it “campers let down” can hit you after any holiday, no matter how long, even just a long weekend can send you into despair. But the post-travel blues is made even more intense for people like myself who are immigrants and dare I say it, through the trauma of the recent pandemic lockdowns. Landing back with a bump back at work and back into normality is bad enough but the head-swivel of leaving your entire family and oldest pals and childhood home on the other side of the world just makes it all seem very strange. And not forgetting to throw jet lag in the mix and the fear of being stuck in a lockdown.

On my recent arrival back to New Zealand, I just felt so low, so sad and so confused. Despite knowing it would happen, I just felt it. Tears on the bus on the way to work, tears at work, needing to be with Lucas all the time so I could just feel like we were still away and in our bubble.

I have always been aware of the post-travel blues and am quite good at understanding that it will pass and that it’s a temporary emotion. However, it is still so hard when I am in it. I have a giant urge to quit everything and head right back to where I came from. What I have to keep reminding myself is that this is my brain tricking me. Being on holiday is getting the best of a place and the best of the people around you. The reality is that being off work and living in just the fun times for a while is why it was so amazing. This can’t last, no matter where you are.

On writing this I have been back in the country for a week and am already starting to feel more positive and feel the emotions pass as they always do. This is a relief and I am starting to be excited about being here and all the great things that I have coming up.

I know that I am not alone in this feeling and that others experience this too. It is especially hard for those of us who have chosen to live overseas as I know many who read this have. Having been locked in New Zealand for so long due to COVID exacerbates things too. It has been traumatic and a very unnerving time to be so cut off and isolated. It is important to remember that this isn’t the case anymore though, travel is on again and we can see our families and friends if and when we need to.

In saying this, I thought it might be helpful to provide some tips for dealing with post-travel blues and depression and moving through it:

Here are my tips for how to deal with post-travel blues:

  1. Know that it will pass – the best thing you can do is know that the feeling of blues is temporary and that it will pass and that it is normal. This can help it not overwhelm you and before you know it you will be back looking forward to the next exciting thing.
  2. Keep busy and see friends – make sure you have a few fun things in the diary for when you get back so you can keep the holiday spirit going and remain positive. Seeing friends is also really important as it reminds you of the things you love about your home and they can also be a shoulder to lean on and help you feel better.
  3. Have a day or two to decompress before working – this is so important to help re-calibrate especially if you have been on a flight. Having a few days to yourself to acclimatize and get your head in gear for work is a good way to make it less of a shock.
  4. Take care of yourself – when you are feeling low, doing kind things for yourself is important. Heading to a yoga class, eating healthy food, and cleaning out your wardrobe can all be great ways to look after your health and space so you can feel better.
  5. Plan your next trip – a few people have said to me that the best way to get over holiday sadness is to book another trip! We have booked our flights to Aus for Christmas and it is so nice to already have something great to look forward to.
  6. Find inspiration in the questioning – the “what is life” and “what should I be doing with my life” questions that come after a trip when you get back into the grind can be so helpful and energising for thinking about what you want from life. Try to use these questions to help manifest where you want to go next rather than feeling sorry for yourself. Use the energy to propel you forward.

Anyway, if you are going through this, so much love goes out to you, it’s hard but it WILL pass. And we wouldn’t have such highs if it was constant. The highs and lows are what life is about and we wouldn’t have such great times if it was great all the time. Good luck and stay positive.

You might also relate to this article I wrote about My Homesickness

Thanks for reading and come back soon.

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Lots of Love

Josie x