Ways To Beat Post Holiday Blues: The Touchdown Comedown

There are Ways To Beat Post Holiday Blues, promise.

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Just as your plane hits the runway you’re made acutely aware of that sinking feeling that’s been building in your stomach these last few days. You’re no longer the Captain Cook of your own adventure, the Ringmaster of an exotic circus – your freedom has been stripped from you like Lady Gaga’s pants and routine, the bastard, is just about to tie that familiar noose around your neck.

In a mad, anxiety-ridden panic you start calculating exactly how may debt collectors would come after you if you hightailed it right back outta there on the next flight to who-the -hell-cares, but then your responsible (read: kill-joy) left-brain kicks in and it’s pretty much a lost cause from then on… the dreaded daily grind is imminent and sweet Jesus can you fend it off just that little bit longer?

Well the bad news is that unless your parents are oil barons, chances are you’ll need to get back to work sooner than your comfort zone will allow. The good news is AMW has a couple of fail-safe therapies that will feel like aspirin to your holiday hangover. So before you bust out the booze and start spilling Bintangs on your camera’s memory card, try some of the remedies below.

Ways To Beat Post Holiday Blues

Eat, Eat, Eat…

AMW isn’t in the business of promoting severe obesity however a few food comas to remind you of that hawker fare consumed on the streets of Vietnam never hurt anyone. Get out the cookbook you bought when you were overseas, invite a friend or two over and make them a killer cultural meal from the recipes you were devouring while away.

Continue Making Social Connections…

And I’m not talking Facebook. Strike up a conversation with a stranger in your own city.  Don’t start babbling to yourself (that never ends well) – simply ask a safe and simple question and see where it leads. You met so many wonderful foreigners during your travels when asking for directions or visiting local haunts that you’ll be surprised at how much new social connections on home soil remind you of the novel experiences and unexpected freedom you had while away.

Write About Your Adventures…

You don’t have to be Mark Twain to write about your travel experiences; the aim of the game is to simply keep them fresh in your mind. Sign-up to Trip Adviser and review the places you stayed to help out fellow travellers embarking on journeys of their own. If you’re not comfortable with the written word, visit some travel blogs and leave a comment.

Coconut, Coconut, Coconut…

This remedy is particularly pertinent to those who have just come back from the Bahamas, Bora Bora, Boracay or the like. Chances are you were using coconut oil while basking (nee roasting) in the sun so it’s only natural that you associate the sweet scent of coconuts with a summer holiday. As soon as you hit home turf, hightail it to your nearest DJ’s and buy a coconut-scented candle. Start burning it every day before work – it’ll take you back to the beach cabana in no time.

Turn The Music Up…

One of the best bits about a holiday is the soundtrack that you play DJ too!  Just as smells evoke holiday memories, the music you listened to while you were in transit will help to keep your trip alive in your mind.

Gone With The Wind…

Go for a drive without a particular destination.  Feel the breeze and let your senses take in the feeling of not having a particular place to go or a particular time to be there.

When All Else Fails Just Commit Hair of the Holiday…

The best cure for a holiday hangover is to book another one! Even if it’s a little weekend road-trip. Look for deals on reputable travel sites such as Booking.Com, WebJet and Flight Centre.

AMW xx

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