May 04, 2024

Travel Depression - What is it and HOW do you FIGHT it?

33 minutes

I had no idea that "travel depression" was a thing. I love when we're traveling or I'm out exploring or on a work trip. What is there to be depressed about with travel? So, in this podcast episode, the first of our Let Me Ask You This series, we talk about what travel depression actually is and how to counter it.

Do you suffer from travel depression? Do you know what it is? Travel depression is the low you feel when you're coming off the high of traveling.

For example: you've been on a weeklong photo safari in the Amazon jungle with your family and then you get home and sit down at your desk for the first time, unable to be productive and actually feeling low vs re-energized or extatic about your trip.

So why does travel depression set in? Well, as we discuss in this podcast episode, it happens for a variety of reasons which are different for everyone. I think some people set themselves up to be bummed out relating to travel and taking trips because they hold so much stock in their rare adventures. It's an emotional rollercoaster for some people.

As a side note, in this episode we address a big elephant in the room when it comes to traveling peacefully: you need to bring the things that make you comfortable. You need to pack in a way that you're using the things you bring AND that allow you to feel at-home on the road. The myth that women have to bring a million things on a trip because that's the plight of women is ridiculous. As a guy, I bring suits and many pairs of shoes, and still bring only a carryon suitcase - and I still bring my pillow.

Back to the topic at hand thoughTips to fight post-travel depression:

do a weekend getway you can drive to

plan your next trip

house swap with a friend in another city

create social media posts to share with friends that make you happy about past trips

journal WHILE you're traveling to read later

LASTLY, if you're coming home to a reality you don't like, you need to work to change it, whether that be your work environment or your home where you spend a lot of time. Work to make your every-day life more of what you want it to be.

I know that not everybody has a problem with being bummed out by not traveling, or doesn't travel enough to develop this sort of complex, but if you do, I hope it's helpful to have some tips to fight it. We all have different things that impact us, and if you need a little pick-me-up post travel, now you have ways to get out of the dulldrums! Check out more podcast episodes and in-depth show notes here!

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