What to do when the Holiday Blues kick in

You all know the feeling. You’ve just had an amazing time travelling – whether it was for one week, one month, or maybe even a year – and you come home and feel like you could run straight back to the airport if you had to, just to experience the holiday you had all over again.
You’re feeling a bit stressed and disorientated, with the thought of reality and work coming back into the mix after you’ve had the time of your life on the other side of the world. I feel you. I’ve been there many times. And yes, it sucks.
So what should we do when the holiday blues strike? Here are a few things I’d recommend. It takes a bit of determination to get through this feeling, but we can do it! I have faith!
Accept that the feelings are there.
Of course you’re going to feel down. One minute you’re cruising through the glamorous streets of Paris, and the next minute you’re home alone with an empty heart – it’s totally fine to feel this way. So I’d encourage you to acknowledge it, and then try your best to deal with it with a positive mind.
Unpack straight away, and do the washing.
Sadly that suitcase isn’t going to unpack itself and that messy pile of washing won’t volunteer to wash itself either! It’s better to get the two done as soon as you can – to avoid tripping over half emptied suitcases and rummaging through piles of dirty clothes once you’re back to your full time hours. This will allow you more space and maybe a sense of organisation, helping to avoid you feeling too stressed out.
Eat healthily.
I’m sure I’m not the only one that splurges on my holidays and treats myself to a macaron (or 10), and a few too many scoops of gelato. It’s so easy to fall into the habit of just eating what’s easy when you’re away, and most of the time that doesn’t mean healthy. So get back into your greens and treat yourself to nourishing food. If you eat healthily when you’re away, good on you! Keep up the good work when you get home. Your body will thank you for it!
Fight the jet lag.
Jet lag is something you don’t want to deal with when you’re feeling a bit down and lost. So go for a walk, empty your mind, get some fresh air and get familiar with your surroundings again. This will help with the jet lag and also reignite your love for home.
I know the feeling is really awful, and it’s way too easy to get caught up in it. But we need to ease ourselves back into reality ever so slowly by also providing a happy medium, with parts of our trip still with us, at home, and of course, in our hearts!
Written by Katherine Reynolds
www.katthewanderer.com / facebook/katthewanderer / @katthewanderer