5 Ways to Beat Post Vacation Depression

You’re on a warm beach somewhere in the Caribbean, you see the waiter bringing you a fresh Mai Tai and you haven’t even finished the one in your hand. Damn Jean-Claude knows me so well, you say to yourself. You’re basking in the sunlight, the melanin is PAWPIN, and you fall asleep reading some trashy romantic novel you secretly love. The sea-breeze hits your nostrils ever so slightly, you smell the freshness. On this day you’re feeling that drink, goofishly smiling, cackling with your girls. Days later, you’re being slapped by reality.

Welcome to Post-Vacation Depression folks! That feeling when you have to leave paradise and Jean-Claude behind, damn, he was so good at his job though, and bring your raggedy tail back to the real world. You know the one; where your boss is asking about how far along you’ve come on the project, where Rae-Rae and all his badass kids are asking to stay with you, where your ex is trying to pop back up in your life. YIKES. Welcome my friends!

Okay, so maybe it isn’t that bad. It’s possible I’m being dramatic, but Post-Vacation Depression (PVD) is real. I may or may not be going through this as we speak (read as: I AM GOING THROUGH THIS), but I’m also a survivor of PVD. I’ve escaped reality enough times to know that coming back from adventure is the hardest part. Lucky for y’all I’ve come up with 5 ways to overcome PVD.

1. ADJUST YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE

You were either in a different timezone, partying until the wee hours of the morning, or had the longest journey of your life (here’s mine). Maybe all of these are true, in which case, you’re more than likely going to crash the minute you see your bed. I advise that actually. Sleep. GO TO BED. Fall in love with your mattress and your comforter all over again. Just consider the time. When I come back from traveling, I usually force myself to either sleep or stay up depending on the time. If I get home at 3pm, I try to wait until at least 8pm before I go to sleep, so I start the next day fresh! On the other hand, if I get home at 3am, I’m going straight to sleep. Immediately. I will not pass go. I will not collect $200.

Do what suits you best, but make sure you are able to ease back into your regular sleep schedule as soon as possible. The sooner your sleep schedule is on track, the sooner the lethargic feeling goes away, the quicker you can go back to being yourself, and the sooner your mood swings stop. It’s inconclusive whether my mood swings ever stop, but that’s a story for a different post. The point is to get back into a healthy sleeping schedule, because Lord knows we can’t function without it.

2. TIME TO DETOX

Let’s be honest, you went on a binge. You worked your ass off to get your beach body. You were in the gym, eating healthy, drinking water, then got to the beach and said “to hell with it, I’m here! This is the body the beach got!” I STAN A CONFIDENT QWEEN. You were vacationing and living your best life, consuming all the Mai Tai’s, the oxtails, the pastries. You walked to the bar in the resort, that counts as exercise, right?

LOL sis, I feel you. If you’re trying to beat your Post-Vacation Depression you’re going to have to start by changing that trash diet of yours (I’m not judging, I’m y’all. Y’all are me. We are one.) You have to eat better to feel better. Start up on that workout routine you ditched, try adding some veggies to your meals, maybe a fruit or two. The better your body feels, the better you’ll feel about being back!

3. MENTALLY PREPARE

The worst part of coming back to reality is not knowing what you’re coming back to. Did Rae-Rae and his badass kids tear the house up? Do I have the most projects waiting for me at work? Are there bills that I’ve neglected? Will the damn lights even be on when I get home? Alright loves, if you’re unsure about your lights...and you were just traveling... you gotta work out your priorities. If you’re worried about the work awaiting you, I feel you. I find that it’s easiest to get back into the swing of things when I mentally prepare myself for what’s to come.

I initially try to come to terms with the fact that I am going to have an adjustment period. I go back knowing that things are not going to be butterflies and rainbows. I go back thinking realistically, considering what work I might have and how I’ll get it done. Post-Vacation Depression can be stopped if you prepare for it! Get ahead of PVD so PVD doesn't get ahead of you! (Did that sound like an STD infomercial to anyone? Just me? Ok, great.)

4.  GRATITUDE

Consider the time you had, the people you met, the things you saw, the experience, the lessons, the undeniable joy and laughter that filled you. Carry that around with you upon return. Make it a point to feel that Jamaican sunlight no matter where you are. I’m not crazy, (debatable), I know you can’t feel the damn Jamaican sun in the dead of winter in New York. I’m asking that you carry the feeling of the Jamaican sun glazing your melanated ass skin. Carry the feeling of being surrounded by your favorite people. Carry the feeling of waking up to a sea-breeze around with you. Call it your happy place. When things get rough, remember that feeling. Remember that place. Go there often.

Rae-rae and his badass kids getting on your nerves? SSKKKKRRRTTT. Reclaim your joy. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy or fun to do all the time, but it’ll be a way to stay grateful. Remember to thank your Higher Power, your Universe, your God for showing you its creations.  PVD is hard to manage, but holding that piece of light inside you makes dealing with the real world that much more bearable.

5. PLAN YOUR ESCAPE

I know you’re grateful and all my love, but uhhhh when we leaving? Yeah, we need to get on that next! Your best best for escaping reality while still engaging in said reality, is to plan your escape! Where are you going? Who are you going with? If you went with a big group last vacation consider going solo on the next one, and vice-versa. Figure out your travel style (here’s a guide). Your PVD doesn’t stand a chance against the thrill of deciding where you’re heading to next! Leave the country once and you’re well equipped to go time and time again.

There’s nothing that eases the mind more than knowing that your escape is just around the corner. Don’t worry about not having the money yet, you’ll collect it, you have time. Don’t worry about not having the full plan yet, you’ll figure it out, you have time. Once you take the first couple of steps to figuring out where you’re going next, PVD is out the door making room for curiosity and excitement about the next adventure.

Ever experienced Post-Vacation Depression?

What did you do to get back into the swing of things?

Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Wandering…

Solo Female Travel: Tips, Tricks, and How to Not Die

So you're looking to travel alone, but you're not trying to die? Cool. I literally had the same thoughts before my first solo trip. Was I nervous? YES. Was I on the airplane considering turning around? YES. Did I cry and want to return home? At some point, sure. So why am I promoting it? What's the point? How did I survive? Stay tuned on the next episode of Dragon Ball-Wad. 

I want to make this easy for you to read, so I'll answer some main questions regarding solo-travel. Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list. If you have more questions, feel free to ask in the comments below! 

1. WHY IS SOLO TRAVEL MORE FUN THAN GROUP TRAVEL?

Where do I even begin? You are given the freedom to do exactly what you want to do. Museums? Go there! Clubs? Enjoy! Experiment with new delicacies? HELL YES. You have the opportunity to travel as you wish. You are not tied to anyone interjecting with their (undesirable) opinion. You eat when you want to, wake up when you want to, meet people on your accord, and live life on your terms. What could be better? It is a time for self-reflection and an amazing time to learn about yourself as a human being. It challenges you in the best way possible, pushes you outside of your comfort zone, and helps you grow. Want to adult real quick? Travel Solo. You learn to fend for yourself. You learn about the world around you, different cultures, and it makes you more open and susceptible to growth. 

This is not to say that when you travel with a group you don't grow, but you are more prone to fall into routine. More prone to stick to what you know. Less likely to experiment, especially if those you are traveling with are stuck in their ways. Solo travel is a chance for adventure, self-discovery, and has always been a place where I find my inner peace. It is a chance to reacquaint with myself and fall in love with who I am all over again. It is a chance to be proud of myself, a chance to explore what is important to me and ground myself. You can also use it as a chance to get schwasted, go buckwild, and live your best life with no judgement. Whatever works for you.

2. DO YOU EVER GET LONELY?

No. I'm a wanderer. I don't need nobody. Loneliness is for the weak. * EYEEE ROLLLL * Yes, of course I get lonely. There are times where it would be nice to have someone. Overlooking a breathtaking sunset, I wish there was a bae to hold my hand. Seeing something that sparks an inside joke, I yearn for my best-friend. If I start to feel sick I want to reach out for my mama. Loneliness is a normal and natural part of solo travel, but it's also what the whole experience is about. People are great, you love them, you need them, and you want them to experience these wonders with you. But just because you want them there, doesn't mean that you stop being there and it doesn't mean that they won't be there when you get back.

You have to take the good with the bad. In my experience, loneliness white traveling abroad have always been because I've closed myself off to those around me. There are people everywhere, you just have to go meet them. Loneliness is temporary, it fades. The traveling experience is eternal, you keep those memories for a lifetime. 

3. ARE YOU EVER NERVOUS ABOUT BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF?

The simple answer is yes. As a woman, I am in constant fear of being taken advantage of (whether in America or abroad). This is the sad truth of the world we live in. There is a stigma surrounding foreign nations being more dangerous than America. This is something I'll go ahead and debunk. SHITS A LIE. I've been in many places I've felt safer in than I did at home. With that being said, I do usually check the crime levels wherever I go. It helps me feel better comparing the stats to those in the U.S. and understanding what my risk levels are.

All in all though, I suggest taking the same precautions you would at home. Stay cautious, don't get in cars with strangers, and never admit you're traveling alone unless you trust the person or you're in a hostel. I find hostels to be wonderful, welcoming places with seasoned travelers. If I'm looking for people to generally trust, I find those in the area rated highly on Couchsurfing.com and go from there. My best advice is to follow your gut. If something doesn't feel right, DON'T DO IT. Trust your instincts, they rarely steer you wrong.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!