You were on holiday and life was blissful. You stayed at a fabulous hotel offering scenic views, woke up to sumptuous buffet spreads, explored all those pretty destinations, wined and dined at swanky restaurants, downed endless pizza slices, spent hours on the beach, and lived such carefree days with your BFF that you wanted to hit pause on life at that moment and never resume the regular humdrum of life. But bam, the most insane long weekend of the year just got over, and you are now returning from the vacation!

Suddenly, a plethora of whys hit your mind – why do holidays end, why do I even need to be back at my job, why can’t I travel forever, why does the normal routine suck, why can’t I be in the hills again, why do I have to be in that stupid work meeting, why do I have to worry about managing groceries at home, and so on. To top it all, you may feel cranky, annoyed, and less motivated at work after you actually return from the holiday.

Sounds like what you are feeling after the long weekend trip?

Well, it is normal to feel, and a lot of people experience it. The reasons behind it can vary from person to person. For many, it could be because of the hectic travel schedule. Many others may dread the idea of returning to normalcy. A lot of people have to entertain work requests even on holiday, which hinders the rejuvenation they aimed to seek.

“A vacation is to rejuvenate oneself, but some of us carry work along as baggage. It is normal, but one needs to work on it by adapting to drop the baggage, at least when on vacation. Of course, you will feel exhausted as you’ve done too much travel, along with that baggage of stress without even realising it,” says Dr Roshan Mansukhani, a therapist and counsellor based in Mumbai.

For many, vacations are an escape from reality. Though a holiday can provide temporary relief, the idea of returning to something that you do not want to confront can induce the blues. They may also hint at working on the root cause.

“In today’s day and age, vacations are taken to escape regular lives and the surrounding anxiety. So when you have to come back to what we badly needed to escape, it does get tough. Exhaustion and low motivation are natural because the daily drill will now be causing you stress, and we want to escape stress. Hence, always fixing the root cause of exhaustion and low motivation is required and not escaping it,” says Sheena Sood, consultant psychologist and counsellor at PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai.

“Some people who are escaping rather than going to enjoy a holiday are bound to feel exhausted and less motivated upon returning. Many people experience a surge of anxiety too as they are getting closer to returning to work after a holiday,” she adds.

Dr Gorav Gupta, CEO and senior psychiatrist at Tulasi Healthcare, Gurugram, says that feelings of depression or lack of motivation may arise from the contrast between your vacation and regular life.

There are several ways to deal with these post-vacation blues. Snapping at your colleagues for no reason is certainly not one of them.

Take a day off after returning from a holiday

This is really important for a smooth transition into regular life after a vacation. You might be tempted to make the most of the leaves that you took, but it is always better to keep one for a rest day, especially if you took a red-eye flight.

“Do not return to work the same day. If possible, give your body a day to settle in and prepare for getting back to daily life,” says Sheena Sood.

Putting yourself right into heavy work or study could be a bad idea.

“To prevent post-vacation depression and maintain a positive mood, avoid common pitfalls such as immediately plunging back into a heavy workload. Instead, give yourself a gradual transition period to ease back into responsibilities,” adds Aanandita Vaghani, founder and mental health therapist at Mumbai-based clinic UnFix Your Feelings.

A day or two off after a holiday gets over can also help your body recover from physical exhaustion caused by travelling.

Keep the itinerary light

While planning a vacation, ensure to keep a flexible or light itinerary. Hectic travel is a key reason behind the dreadful post-vacation blues.

“You don’t need to travel to all sight-seeing places in a limited number of days as you will tire yourself out. Pick and choose your destinations and make the best out there,” suggests Dr Manshukhani.

Bring souvenirs and gifts for loved ones

Trust me, this is not a sly message to a friend who travels a lot (and whom I will be sharing this article with), but experts say bringing gifts for loved ones can keep the sombreness after a vacation at bay.

“Have great souvenirs and gifts that you can distribute amongst people once back to daily life. This makes your excitement persist, and you do not feel low about the daily routine,” says Sheena Sood. Additionally, discussing your vacation experience with them can help you cope with the blues. You would look forward to sharing the gifts and travel stories, and, hence, wouldn’t mind getting back to the daily routine.

Start planning the next trip

While you are returning from your trip, start planning the next one already. It is always better to have something to look forward to. You could spend the time researching prospective destinations and making an itinerary.

Write travel reviews

The trip is over, but your heart is obviously still on holiday. Use your inability to step out of holiday mode by writing reviews on travel websites. Several travellers and local businesses can benefit from your experiences as well.

“Consider writing reviews on travel websites, offering tips, and sharing advice to enhance someone else’s vacation. Not only does this solidify your memories, but it can also support local businesses and help others avoid the mistakes you made,” says Vaghani.

Continue self-love practices

We tend to indulge in a lot of self-care activities like relishing favourite foods, going on long walks, taking a dip in the pool, getting dressed up, and relaxing in spas while on holiday.

“Just as self-care is crucial during your vacation, continuing these practices upon your return can be helpful. Maintain routines that promote well-being, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation techniques,” suggests Vaghani.

Avoid comparing vacation and everyday life

We know life was really good when you were devouring pizzas in Italy, but it can be discouraging to compare your vacation to everyday life all the time.

“Make an effort to incorporate the enjoyable parts of your trip into your regular activities,” says Dr Gorav Gupta.

A little homework before the holiday begins

Those blues will hit you less hard if you fix a few things before embarking on that much-awaited trip.

“If you have unresolved conflicts at home or work contributing to post-vacation blues, addressing these issues before your trip can be beneficial,” says Vaghani. By doing so, your travel agenda will change from escaping reality to relaxation or rejuvenation.

“People usually do not establish the purpose of a vacation or are unaware of it; they end up exhausted. Those who were always clear and fulfilled the purpose come back feeling rejuvenated,” adds Sood.

Already establishing if the vacation is an escape or to relax from the taxing daily routine will help you be honest and fix the issue causing daily stress. You can be sure not to overexert on your vacation as that would mean exhaustion.