How to beat the post-holiday blues

Travel

Your holiday was #summergoals and you’ve come back with a gorgeous tan, a new appreciation for rosé at sunset and a phone full of pictures. So why are you avoiding your normal routine, your friends and  – more importantly – feeling like you’re more miserable now than before you left? Stacey investigates the real reason behind those post holiday blues…

That feeling is genuine, a byproduct of “post-holiday depression,” and this struggle actually IS real, according to Lee Thompson, a travel expert and co-founder of Flash Pack (a holiday company specialising in connecting solo travellers).

“We see this a lot amongst our customers, and think much of it can be attributed to work stress – as 65% say their return is extremely stressful. We put this down to the adrenaline comedown, the withdrawal of which leaves you feeling under the weather and plainly speaking, a bit rubbish.”

But there’s a solution, promises Corinne Sweet, a UK-based therapist, who gave DOSE her top tips for getting back in gear after your holiday:

#Tbt to the time we floated on water at the Dead Sea in Jordan, the lowest point on Earth. The buoyant sea of this Middle Eastern hot spot makes an excellent reading nook, so grab your favourite paperback and casually soak in the rays, balanced as if on an invisible lilo. The Dead Sea's mineral-rich mud works wonders for the skin, so you can slather yourself head-to-toe in its therapeutic balm before washing it all off in the ocean. Or you can simply gaze out onto the dazzling blue horizon, with the bay of Israel shimmering in the distance. Just remember not to dip your head beneath the surface… the salt is not your friend! . . . . . . #throwbackthursday #deadsea #jordan #middleeast #floating #sea #ocean #flashpack #adventuresworthsharing #adventure #explore #escape #discover #travel #travelling #traveller #traveler #nature #healing #therapy #reading #bookworm #keepontravelling #wheretonext

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Beat jet lag

“Jet Lag is a chronobiological disruption to our body’s natural rhythms, caused by a change in time-zones. This hinders sleep patterns, which in turn drives feelings of anxiety, depression and unrest,” Sweet says. And it’s such an important issue that British Airways worked with the UK’s leading sleep expert, Dr. Chris Idzikowski, to create a British Airways jet-lag calculator to help you get back into the groove more quickly when traveling.

Light up your life

One of the best ways to get a positive outlook on life is actually to increase the amount of natural daylight you’re exposed to (tough when you’re grafting in an office under fluorescent bulbs, granted, so get out and walk at lunch or even walk to and from work). “When you consider that sunlight has been proven to impact mental wellbeing, it stands to reason that spending as much time as possible outside, and/or buying an artificial light will help the cause,” Sweet adds.

#Tbt to the time we performed a euphoric group leap into the cloud forest at Little Adam's Peak in Ella, Sri Lanka. Travelling with strangers is a leap of faith the first time you do it. Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. They say fortune favours the brave but luck doesn't have much to do with it in Flash Pack's host of adventures. Sure, you have to make that first move in booking the holiday – but after that, it's over to us. Our team of dedicated happiness heroes work around the clock to make sure everyone who joins our trips shares the same kind of open-minded, friendly and adventurous values. So, not only will you be with like-minded people of a similar age and life stage (30 and 40-something professionals), the scene is also set for lifelong friendship. Like a finely tuned violin, the group dynamic will sing . . . . . . #throwbackthursday #tbt #srilanka #ella #friends #friendship #newpeople #experience #flashpack #adventuresworthsharing #travel #travellers #travelers #adventure #escape #explore #discover happiness

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Sync with your #squad

“Being on holiday makes us more sociable, which in turn boosts positivity. Sadly, this changes on our return, and it’s a fact of life that our social circles narrow as we get older,” Sweet notes. So if your post-holiday nights are becoming focused on Netflix and Deliveroo, snap out of it and make plans to reconnect. Even better – try something new as a squad, helping to recapture that holiday energy and joie de vivre.

Work it out

The only thing harder than hitting the gym after a week lying by a pool or on a sandy beach is probably waking up on a Monday morning, but prioritise that sweat session, Sweet states. “Exercise has been proven to release feel-good brain chemicals that may ease depression (neurotransmitters, endorphins and endocannabinoids). Try even getting up a little earlier for a walk, it’s a far more positive way to start the day.”

Stay connected while on hols

“This isn’t for everyone, but for those that find themselves sneaking regular checks of their emails, or simply stressing about what’s going on back in the office, allowing yourself 30 minutes max of access to work per day can alleviate the stress felt by 72% of Brits when they go on holidays,” Sweet says. “If you keep tabs on your life, new opportunities and vital deadlines, by checking in briefly every day you are away, you can smooth your re-entry back into work, which lowers your anxiety and makes coming home less of a jolt.”

Set new goals

“Channel your post-holiday emotions into a quest for change, by filling the void with new objectives to look forward to,” Sweet suggests. To chart this out, Sweet suggests setting a long-term objective, then creating smaller goals and milestones for each to keep you on track. (A reward for meeting your new goal is entirely up to you, of course – but might help you stick to the plan).

And if all else fails? Start booking your next holiday, stat – turns out that summertime is statistically the cheapest time to score another holiday!

Check out travel options on DOSE or visit Flash Pack for holiday inspirations

By Stacey

Hettie Holmes

A destination for healthy hedonists that fuses the worlds of fitness, healthy food and drink.