finding little moments of excitement to beat post-trip depression

Jun 15

Written By S

It’s been an on and off week with my mood and self love. I had a great Memorial Day weekend, but I came back to such a low mood and negative emotions — about myself, relationships, life in general, etc.

Maybe it’s the post-trip depression. I love being excited about something. It fuels my every day life knowing I have something to look forward to and something to plan. I love daydreaming about what activities I’m going to do and what outfits I plan on wearing.

Medical News Today refers to post-vacation depression as “the negative emotions or depression people may experience when returning from vacation.”

“Although being on vacation may help to relieve stress and improve mood, the positive effects may not always last on returning home,” they write. “People may experience emotional discomfort, nostalgia, or an increase in stress when returning to their regular routine, work, or studies.”

Healthline says numerous studies have found vacations to reduce stress, while boosting your sense of well-being. They cite one study, in particular, that found workplaces that offer 10 days of paid vacation leave were associated with a 29 percent drop in depression risk among women. (though I think 10 days is no where near enough PTO days companies should offer.)

“Giving ourselves the opportunity to explore the world around us can rejuvenate our sense of wonder, and more importantly, help us to be more present-minded,” Melody Ott, a licensed clinical social worker, told Healthline. “Theydon’t have to cost a lot of money or last very long, but our mind and body need to slow down and turn inward.”

So we all agree trips and vacation are healthy and a good thing. But what about when we come back? It can be such a sudden drop in emotions. How do we keep these good feelings going, or at least have other semi-exciting things to help us manage reality?

how to find little moments of excitement in your life:

experience places you haven’t been to:

There’s a thrill that comes with traveling to a new city or country. The new food, ambiance and quirks of the fresh place can be so exciting to experience. One way to emulate that feeling of stepping into a new environment is to check out places that you’ve never been to that are close to where you live.

I love trying a new restaurant or bar because it’s exciting to see what this place has to offer, and it’s fun to be open and potentially find a new favorite spot.

One of my most promising ways to find these gems are through TikTok. Someone is always posting when a new joint drops or posting reviews of places you’ve never heard of. You can even go outside and drive around to look for somewhere you’ve never thought to go to, or perhaps always wanted to go to but never made the time.

make maintenance appointments just because:

If you’re like me, you love the maintenance that comes with going on a trip. I love getting my hair and nails done, while picking out and experimenting with different outfits. It’s so fun and girly and makes me excited for the trip seeing everything come together.

But I tend to find myself neglecting that maintenance sometimes. I’ll tend to only get my hair done for a trip or a special event.

I encourage you to go get your hair done just for fun, or buy a new outfit because you want to take pictures somewhere in your town. You don’t have to only splurge when you have something planned. Make yourself look and feel good on a random day, if that brings you excitement and joy.

host something with your friends:

I’m always excited to go on vacations because I get to go somewhere cool with my friends or family, while spending quality time with them. I don’t get to do that a lot, so it’s meaningful when we set time aside to have fun with each other.

When you get back from vacation and find yourself lonely and craving quality time with the people in your life, try to make some more plans to see your friends/family.

It doesn’t have to be super extravagant or expensive. Maybe host a game night, or plan out a nice dinner out on the town when everyone is free. You don’t only have to hang out with your favorite people when there’s a vacation or special getaway planned.

book your next vacation:

This one is probably the most obvious but understated. Vacations can be expensive, and sometimes it is a yearly thing. Not everyone has the luxury of going on vacations all the time (I definitely don’t have that luxury.)

But you can plan ahead to next year, or envision different places you want to go to next! Planning is such a fun activity to me, and there’s nothing better than beating your post travel depression by having your next travel plans in mind.

signs of post-trip depression

There are signs to look out for when you feel you may be affected by post-trip depression.

PsychCentral lists out a few signs of post-vacation depression: stress, anxiety, sadness, fatigue, irritability, lack of focus, lack of motivation and trouble sleeping.

“If you’ve used up your time off, or don’t have another vacation planned, you might feel like you have nothing to look forward to for a while. You may also just experience an overall grieving period when your vacation comes to an end. These feelings are common — in fact, most people tend to feel their happiest before a vacation, not after,” they write.

Clear Behavioral Health said a tightly scheduled vacation, stressful re-entry and unmet expectations could also be to blame for post-vacation depression.

“Sometimes, vacations don’t live up to our expectations. If you had high hopes for your vacation and it didn’t meet those expectations due to various reasons (bad weather, unforeseen circumstances, conflicts with travel companions, etc.), you might feel let down or disappointed upon returning home,” they write.

I often feel hopeless, tired, grouchy and unmotivated when I come back from a trip. If you have these emotions, you’re most likely not alone. Try some of the tips I mentioned in this article and remember that your next vacation is just a plan away.