In case you missed my Instagram bragging, I’ve just come back from an incredible trip to Iceland and Paris. And when I say incredible, I mean I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E. Iceland is the most breathtaking country I could have ever imagined… actually scrap that, it’s far more than I even had the capacity to imagine. To give you a brief example, at one stage we were driving along the highway, with the ocean on one side, lava fields on the other, and a glacier behind the lava fields. HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE? And Paris, oh Paris [insert love heart eyes here] well I’d go back in a heartbeat to wander those cobblestone streets if I could.
Sadly all good things (like holidays) must come to an end, and I – like so many before me – now find myself facing a case of the post-holiday blues. Thankfully, I’ve got a few tried and true tricks up my sleeve to ensure I’m feeling good again as soon as possible.
Check ‘em out:
Regular Exercise
No matter how good our intentions, most of us don’t manage to work out quite as much as we plan to. That’s totally ok though – there’s no guilt allowed while you’re on holidays! Sometimes though, it leaves us feeling a little out of sorts by the time we get home. I find the best thing to do is to get straight back into it, but to take things a little slower than usual. And make sure you pay particular attention to what your body is telling you – you might need to dial down the HIIT sessions and focus on something a little more gentle until you’ve kicked those post-holiday blues.
Re-Discover Your Routine
One of the best things about holidays is the total freedom to do whatever you like. You can sleep when you feel like it, explore when you want to, eat and drink whatever you like and just generally make decisions on the fly. Unless you’re some kind of playboy/girl billionaire though, this lifestyle is unlikely to work for you full time. I find that getting back into routine as soon as possible goes a long way to helping me feel like myself again. Everyone’s routine is different, but for me it’s important to go to bed at a reasonable hour, set an alarm and get up early (no snoozing!) and get back into my regular eating routine.
Start Planning Your Next Holiday
This may seem a bit crazy when you’ve not long stepped off a plane, but having something to look forward to should never be underestimated when it comes to beating the post-holiday blues! Don’t get me wrong, life is pretty excellent, but holidays? They are even more excellent-er! Whether you like to plan one big trip every year, or a few smaller ones, researching and planning where you’d like to go next is a lot of fun!
Lock in Some Friend-Dates
Catch ups with friends are bright beacons of light against the black sky of your sad heart. OK so I’m being dramatic, but in all truthfulness, these little rays of sunshine in your calendar are important for your mental health. Plus they give you a good excuse to whip out your holiday pics and reminisce about the good times.
Ask for a Little Extra Love
Returning from a holiday you’d been planning for months is sad. If you find yourself with that little pit in the bottom of your tummy (you know, the one that always hit you the night before you had to go back to school after summer holidays) then don’t be afraid to ask for a little extra affection. Whether it’s your mum, partner, friend or (maybe best of all) your dog (HI LOU!) a little snuggle with someone you love can go a long way to reminding you of all the excellent things you have in your life.
I know from personal experience that by implementing these five simple tips that I’ll be back to myself in no time (in fact; I’ve been home three days and I’m feeling pretty good already).
How do you ditch the post-holiday blues? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Jess x
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