Hi, there lovely readers, let’s talk about post-holiday blues. I get them, don’t you? Seems my friends do too. Over a recent lazy lunch, the girls and I were hoping to enjoy a vicarious holiday via our ‘just returned from a three-week European break’ friend. Instead, she confessed ‘It all went so fast, I feel like I have permanent jetlag!’ As we toasted ‘jetlag’ (any excuse) we ruminated on the question – how can we hold onto the buzz of a holiday rather than succumb to post-hol malaise?    

A spot of research via fellow travellers, travel-loving bloggers and my own experiences resulted in three magic words. Nature. Detox. Ritual.

NATURE

Some years ago I took a six-month sabbatical; to mourn, rest, rejuvenate and to test my solo mettle. The Cinque Terra, the five old fishing villages perched high on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region of Italy became my home, the locals my friends, nature my saviour. You see, the last words my husband, a passionate yachtie, shared with me before he sailed permanently over the horizon were “Think of me at sunset babe and know I’ll be thinking of you.” The Mediterranean sunsets were so spectacular, finding the best observation vantage point became an obsession. On some eves I’d share my day with him, fond memories too, on others I’d sit in quiet contemplation and simply marvel at the glorious hues of rose and magenta, cerulean blue and indigo as the sky and ocean became one. A calming, spiritually cleansing ritual and one I continue to this day.

Sneak away from your fellow travellers, immerse yourself in a spot of nature and notice how your mind and body feel as you begin to relax into your surroundings. The meditative sound of the surf tumbling pebbles along the shoreline; the subtle colour shifts as sky and ocean become one at sunset; the gentle luft of a lone yacht passing by. Sparkles on water, sunlight filtering through treetops, the scent of unfurling blossoms, cacophony of bird calls at dusk. All so obvious, yet how often do we give ourselves permission to truly absorb these moments?

Taking the time to do this can be equivalent to clearing our mental slate and eliminating the noise of “busyness” that often plagues us. Unlike the stimulation of a large, bustling city, it’s a chance to process your thoughts and allow new ideas to emerge. 

DETOX  

Possible to hide your devices and detox? Possible yes, but not always plausible, depending on your personal circumstances. I use my phone to document observations, take snaps, an offline map to find my way around and, at times, Spotify to add a soundtrack to my day.  But scroll my socials? No.

During a European trip with friends, our daily ritual was simple. Share the day’s photos over a G&T when we landed at our next digs. Discuss everyone’s favourite highlights over dinner. Document the best over a nightcap. Recap and refine the resulting blog post over breakfast. Post. Can we remember almost every aspect of that holiday – absolutely! Friends followed the blog, the blog auto-posted to the socials and anyone interested could follow the journey from either option. Those who have adopted the habit say they love the way this keeps them focused on their adventures rather than scrolling.

If writing isn’t your gig, a quick daily round-up of observations in a journal and curation of favourite images gives solo you, or you and your travel buddies, a chance to relive the day in glorious colour. 

Friends also say that if you’re self-employed and feel the need to check in with work, resist the urge. Instead empower your team to make decisions on your behalf and inform them that, bar the building burning down, they’ve got this!  If you feel you must check in, select a specific time frame and stick with it. Creating solid boundaries around technology can help you remain in the present and give your mind that much-needed break.

RITUAL

You needed that restorative holiday, you earned it and now you want to maintain that zen feeling after you step off the plane yes? It is possible to counteract return-to-work stress by being a little strategic and intentional beforehand.  

So many bloggers recommended creating a little ‘returning home’ ritual. While winging your way home, research where you’d like to travel next and pull together a list of options and rough dates. A cruise? A local holiday? Another overseas destination? You’ve now created something to look forward to before you’ve even landed. But what about your personal well-being post-landing? 

Design a strategy to keep that bliss long after you’ve logged back into life as you knew it. This might include putting plans in place to manage sleep hygiene and healthy eating habits, exercising, and remembering to take it easy on the first day back. A friend always adds Monday to her holidays to rest and recuperate. As you resume work, check in with yourself – still fulfilling the intention you had set for your holiday?  Still feeling joyful, energised, calm? Revisit that journal and photos and relive some of the best experiences. You may even wish to create a storyboard for that next trip! Just some of the many great ways to counteract stress and remind yourself that your batteries are recharged. 

Here’s to calmer and more mindful travels!

What are your strategies? Drop your thoughts in the chat 🙂