How to get over the Post Travel Blues

Picture this… You just finished a world travel, months of meeting new people, conquering fearless adventures, seeing incredible landscapes, trying amazing foods, and overall becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be, feeling so extraordinary, to then return back to your perhaps simpler life at home… Suddenly the free spiritedness you adopted for months has seemingly disappeared as real life problems come to the surface.

Whether you finished a travel due to needing to return to a job, running out of money, or currently due to corona virus, there is no easy time to return home.

Here are some of my tips to get over those post travel blues:

(note some can’t be applied due to corona but any who)

1. Reconnect with old friends– Traveling sometimes limits time to reach out to friends with various time zones, strange schedules, and barely there cell service, connecting with friends during a travel can be difficult. When you return, it’s a perfect opportunity to catch up with people. Although in the moment traveling is amazing, there are of course people you had to leave behind that would likely love to hear from you!
2. Find new passion projects- Traveling seems like you can effortlessly find interesting activities to fill your day with, whether its exploring a new city, trying a new food, or going on an outdoor adventure. This doesn’t mean you can’t do awesome things at home! I always love getting back into the gym, trying new recipes, and painting, which are things that weren’t accessible while traveling. Filling your days with meaningful projects will help heal your broken post travel heart.
3. Treat your home like a new city- Make your home town a staycation. Take advantage of all the amazing things your town has to offer. The local restaurants, the amazing hikes, or the familiarity of being with people you know can always be a comforting feeling to return to. And additionally, your city may offer things you didn’t even realize it had. Try the new workout studio, go support the new local coffee shop, or check out the boutique you’ve always wanted to look in.
4. Treat your country like a new place- A common thing I hear traveling is that many people haven’t explored their own countries. I am totally guilty of this. I have barely seen the US because there’s this feeling that it will always be there. But this year, especially as travel will be restricted, I want to take advantage of the amazing places within my own country. As easy as it is to complain about where you come from, every country offers something unique and special.
5. Adapt your flexible mentality- When I travel, I am the ultimate hippie, go with the flow chica, and sometimes when returning home I feel rigid and less friendly. Something I try to work on is maintaining this adaptable and flexible mindset I always have traveling. Keeping this mentality will help the adjustment be a little easier, as minor inconveniences come up, you’ll be ready to face them with out stress.
6. Seek out cultural activities- When returning from South America, I knew I wanted to maintain my Spanish and was able to find many opportunities of free local groups who spoke Spanish weekly, in addition to yoga classes and volunteer opportunities in Spanish. If your favorite part of traveling is meeting people, make an effort to befriend some of the immigrant community in your country. 
7. Enjoy the luxury of being in one place- Even though it feels boring, sometimes having the same bed, all your clothes unpacked, a toilet you can trust, and food you know won’t upset your stomach can be an amazing treat. Soak up these moments. Go get a pedicure. Get a massage. Finally chop your hair. Though it will feel boring in contrast to the nomad life, sometimes a little reset and relax is necessary.
8. Host international guests- Apps like couch surf and meet up are great ways to meet travelers. Depending on how involved you want to get, you will be able to connect with travelers and help them out in the ways locals probably once supported your journey.

So while coming home from a travel can be a painful nostalgic experience, just remember when you probably started your travel you had some doubt. Be proud of being awesome and doing the thing you said you always would! Get a job, save up, and start day dreaming about your next trip.