Tips to Surviving the Post-Vacation Blues

It happens every time. I spend an entire vacation going, going, going, and then all of a sudden it’s time to pack up and I feel that familiar sting. I have to go home. Don’t get me wrong, I love my home. I love my life. But I also love to travel.

And then when I get home and unpack the real sadness sets in. Life has to go back to normal. No more strolling along the Seine at dusk, no more shopping at Harrods, no more watching the fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Instead, it’s back to work, back to appointments, back to cooking and cleaning for ourselves.

Post-vacation blues are real. But with several vacations under my belt, I’ve learned to assuage some of that post-vacation depression. The first step was figuring out what causes it, then putting a prevention plan in place and finally, practicing tips and tricks to overcome it. Here are some tips to surviving the post-vacation blues.

Why do we get post-vacation depression?

Overall, vacations are good for your mental health (read more about how travel can help your mental health here). In fact, studies have found that taking a vacation reduces stress and helps to boost your sense of well-being. In other words, it can act like self-care. But here’s where it gets complicated: Researchers have also found that the happiness you feel on vacation usually doesn’t last. When the vacation is over, people return to baseline levels of happiness within a few days and some fall into a post-vacation depression.

Some common symptoms of post-vacation depression that you might experience include stress, anxiety, sadness, fatigue, irritability, inability to focus or become motivated, and trouble sleeping.

But before you start to question whether a vacation is a waste of money, don’t! If you had no break from work, no change in environment, then you would never feel that high that you get from having an adventure that makes life so worth it.

So, how do you handle the nearly inevitable slump that follows a holiday?

How to be Proactive and Prevent Post-Vacation Sadness

Before you Leave Home, Tidy up

There are few things more disheartening than walking into a messy home. And while you already have enough on your plate in tying up loose ends at work and getting packed for your upcoming trip, at least pick up the clutter and make the bed before you head out. This will make your return feel more like a “Welcome home.”

Plan Transition Days, if you can

This is only if your budget and schedule allows for it, but if you can, give yourself a day or so to adjust before you return to work. That way you can relax and get your personal life back in line (think grabbing groceries, unpacking, laundry, etc.) before you have to answer any emails from your boss.

Have Something already on your Calendar after your Return

Before you even leave, plan a fun event for after you get back. It can be something as simple as a movie date, a spa trip, a day at the museum, or indulging in your favorite pastime (other than travel, of course). Having something to look forward to will remind you that the fun hasn’t ended just because the trip has.

Pack a Travel Journal, Camera and Extra SD Cards

I always take the time to write down some of my favorite vacation memories before I go to bed each night of my trip, not only because I run a travel blog, but because I want to remember these moments forever. I’ll do the same with documenting everything with my camera. While I do like to have my DSLR with me, as well as extra SD cards, you can use your phone. Just make sure you have plenty of room on it. Then when you start to get a little wistful for your last trip, you’ll be able to go through those pictures and read the notes you took and it will get you excited for your next adventure!

How to Overcome Post-Vacation Depression once it’s Already Hit

Take the Opportunity to Detox

If you’re anything like me, you’ve eaten a ton of delicious food, enjoyed decadent desserts and maybe indulged in a few crafted cocktails while away. You might be feeling a little bloated. A gentle detox may help you to feel better, both physically and mentally. Drinking lots of water will definitely help if you take a plane since they’re known to be dehydrating.

We live in an awesome time where you can share your travel memories with not only friends and family, but the entire world by just pushing a button. One of the reasons I became a travel blogger is because I love sharing my trips as well as travel tips with others. While you don’t have to go as far as writing up an entire travel guide to your most recent destination, you can post a few of your favorite shots to Instagram, sharing a fun story in the caption, or you can jump on a site like TripAdvisor and write reviews for your hotel, the restaurants you visited, and the tours your enjoyed (or didn’t!).

Display (or at least Organize) those Souvenirs

So often I’ll buy little trinkets and then put them away someplace and forget about them. But I stopped doing this when I recently discovered a toy that I had brought home from my trip to London in 2018 that I had gotten for any future little ones down the road and Arielle was now already 2. I mean, it would have broken my heart if I had found it years later and she was too old to enjoy it. Now I make sure to organize my souvenirs that are for down the line and get the ones I planned to display up on the shelf or the wall as soon as possible.

Start Planning Your Next Trip

This is the most obvious tip but still one of the best. If you really want to take your mind off of the post-vacation blues, start planning out your next trip. For some inspiration, you can go through my travel guides or read my tips on how to shop for your next trip and the first thing I do when I start planning my trips.

Incorporate a New Practice

One of the reasons I love to travel is because I love to learn about new cultures and traditions. If you encounter a new custom that you want to incorporate into your own life, go for it! Just make sure you are being respectful and not misappropriating someone else’s culture. For me, I fall in love with languages and I am a constant student of French (I’ve only studied it for 20+ years and I am still not fluent!) and I’m obsessed with all things Parisian. So I’ll often try to dress like a Parisian and indulge in French cuisine!

Practice Gratitude

Oftentimes when I’m moping around after a vacation I will slap my cheek and tell myself, “You just had an awesome time – be grateful for what you did!” While I believe that vacations are necessary, I realize they can be a luxury that not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy. So I will remind myself to practice a little gratitude for the experiences I’ve had and to stop lamenting that it’s over.

A Reminder if Post-Vacation Depression Lingers

Feeling sad after coming home is totally normal. But if you start to feel extremely depressed or isolated, it may be a good idea to reach out. That can start with reconnecting with friends and family. But if that doesn’t help and if the post-vacation malaise you’re experiencing doesn’t get better after a few days, you may want to talk to a therapist.

If you need to talk to someone right away, you can get help by calling a crisis hotline like National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, or The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. You can also text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or START to The Trevor Project at 678678. If you’re not in the United States, find a crisis helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.

Remember …

It’s completely normal to feel a sense of letdown after a vacation. To prevent the post-vacation blues, try to clean up the house a bit and make plans for after you get home. To assuage that sad feeling after you return, prioritize self-care and listen to your body. If you need help with depression — whether it’s trip-related or not — reach out to someone you trust. You are not alone!