Post-Vacation Depression

Post-vacation depression (or, post-vacation blues, as it is sometimes called) has often plagued me. I was hoping that this time it would be different. I just got back from a vacation in the sun. And now, it is all I can do to keep those depression demons off my back.If you read my blogs regularly, you know that the winter here in southern Ontario (Canada) has been particularly nasty. I've been doing everything I can to keep depression away. It's been very hard.

At the beginning of January, I felt as though I was slowly losing the battle. With at least three more months of cruel winter ahead of me, I decided to book a trip to somewhere warmer and sunnier than where I live. I just needed to get away from the snow and the cold and the ice and the unending blah.

I left on January 17th and returned last Friday, January 24th. It was a wonderful trip - a long flight (went to Malta to see my sister who lives there) - but the weather was lovely. We enjoyed sunny, 16 degrees celsius weather (60+ fahrenheit) almost the entire time I was there. That, along with spending some much needed time with my sister, gave me a much needed boost.

I left feeling revived... and hopeful that it would last.

It is less than 48 hours after my return and I'm really feeling down. Is it because it was -20 (-4F) when I got back? Is it because snow was falling and an icy wind was biting my cheeks? Was it the flights themselves? Malta is a long way (13-16 hours) to go for just one week. Perhaps the flight-fatigue is really doing a number on me?

I don't know. All I know is that I am teetering on a treacherous precipice. It wouldn't take much to push me over the edge. I must be even more diligent (than I have had to be lately) to keep myself perched safely atop the hill, rather than plummet down head first.

A few things to help overcome the post-vacation blues:

1) Ensure recovery time after the trip.

As a preemptive measure, I booked my return on the Friday so that I would have two full days to recover before having to return to work.

2) Get out of the house.

Today (Sunday), I literally forced myself to get out of the house rather than staying in my pajamas under a warm blanket, hiding away from the cold. I visited my parents and told them all about my trip, somewhat re-living the trip through my pictures and retelling of events.

3) Ease back into routine.

I am working from home on Monday to help ease me back into my routine. Dozens of email and getting caught up on my work will be a lot easier from the warmth of my own home. No long commute through the snow.

The post-vacation blues can ruin an otherwise wonderfully, rejuvenating trip. There are, however, a few things we can do to help ease the symptoms.