Silk co ord set: Vintage, similar here | Earrings: Mignonne Gavigan | Sandals: Forever 21 | Clutch: It was a gift, but similar here
I don’t know what I’m feeling more of in the current moment, jet lag or post vacation blues. Or both. Actually, I feel both. CONFIRMED.
Do you guys ever get the blues after a long trip? I find myself reflecting on life more than ever…I get existential and sh*t. Like, who am I?!
It’s hard to not to. You go away to these places and see how and where people live, and you wonder, am I doing it right? Outside of your world, what it means to be successful or happy is completely different. It changes perspective, opens up horizons, makes you reevaluate things. It’s not so much the wanting to be on vacation all the time, because, well, no one REALLY wants that. I end up missing my home, my bed, my friends & family. It’s more about the complexity of our world, and how stressful it can be. Being removed from it for a couple weeks is a reminder of how draining it is. That’s what gives me the blues.
Sooo, what next? How do we deal? Here are a few things I’ve been working on the last few days to help me cope with the blues. I also can’t wait to share more about my trip – more to come! Travel guides, what I bought (be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to get the latest there as well!).
make a list of things you’re grateful for.
This may sound cheesy, but hear me out. It helps to take time to sit down and think about all the things you are grateful for in your “real life”. Sure, we’re all grateful for having a place to sleep, access to food, etc. I’m talking deeper than that. I’m grateful for having the time and means to travel, having my family nearby, my health (the most important!), a supporting & loving significant other, a job (& side hustle!) that I love and gives me purpose. Looking at this list of things helps me realize that I have a lot of good in my life that I take for granted. Try it!
identify the things in your life that cause stress.
Those things I mentioned earlier…the stressful, not-fun things? What are they? Identify the things in your life that are causing you the most stress, and think about how you can make them better. If you can’t really change the stressful thing, think about how you can handle the stress better instead. Meditating, exercising, getting enough sleep are all things that can help better manage stress. Pick at least one and slowly introduce it into your everyday routine. 
make time for “vacation-like” things in your normal life.
Life can be fun ALL OF THE TIME, not just on vacation. You can actually do vacation-like things in REAL LIFE, GUYS! I know, I forget sometimes myself. Make an effort to plan dates/events/activities that you look forward to every week. This could be as simple as checking out a new restaurant with a friend, or exploring a new neighborhood in your city on a Saturday afternoon. It doesn’t need to cost a lot of money, or take up an entire weekend. These little events that you add to your calendar can completely change your mindset from “ugh, just another Wednesday” to “I can’t wait to see my friend after work!”. It actually works! I’m planning a pool day next weekend as we speak :).
How do YOU cope with the post vacation blues? Any tips you can share? Let me know in the comments!
