How to beat the post-vacation blues?

Put together a scrapbook or a photo album. Make a journal or write a blog. Then start planning the next one (or, in my case, 2 or 3 or 4...).

Try community service. Helping others is always the best way to forget one's problems.

Great question Suzann...I'm always extremely blue when I get home from Europe. We leave soon for a month and I'm already dreading the blues when I get back. Looking at my photos helps but the ache of wanting to be back there never goes away. I like Carroll's suggestion...

I agree with Carroll. I don't get post-trip blues because I always consider myself grateful to have been able to go in the first place. Sure, it would have been nice to stay longer or whatever, but it seems pretentious to me to be "blue" because I am home. Most people don't get vacation time or get to travel at all.

When I get back from a trip, I start putting together a website with photos and a narrative of the trip. It's a great way to ensure your memories stay fresh and assessable. My wife now demands this - she says it's the only way she can remember the details and share them with friends. Just wish I had more time to do it.

I also start researching the next trip(s), even if I don't have firm plans yet.

Isn't there a 12-Step program for this? Reading my journal and adding to it helps. I don't scrapbook, I embellish my photo albums and when I look at them something will jog a missed memory for me to write down.

I've only been to Europe once and remember that although I was bummed to be coming home, I was also so happy to be sleeping in my own bed, using my own bathroom, using my own washer/dryer, seeing my kids, wearing different clean clothes each day, hm, what else? Just remind yourself, Home Sweet Home! That trip also inspired me to start scrapbooking, something I never did inspite of having kids. So I ended up with a new hobby also! And a reminder that my oldest is now 20 years old and that I have a ton of scrapping to do. Between that and planning my next trip this October, I am happily occupied!

Personally, I do not have any post-vacation blues. Although, I enjoy each moment of my vacations, I am happy to be home.

Within a couple of months after returning I usually strt planning the next one.

I try to find foods at my local grocery store that I ate while on vacation. I am so fortunate to live in such a foodie town, so I can get many imported French, Italian and Spanish specialty foods at my favorite local store. Food is a big part of my whole vacation experience, so I love to be able to replicate (or at least try) it at home. I love to cook, so this is a fun thing. It's amazing how the right pasta and olive oil can take me right back to Montalcino. :)

One more tip that I forgot to mention....actually two. :)

First, before I go on my trip I download music that is usually new to me, from itunes to my ipod. Then I bring my travel speakers and listen to that music on my whole trip. When I get home I listen to that music and it reminds me of my trip.

Second, I buy a new fragrance, bath gel, or lotion. (Or buy a new on while I am there.)I use it on my trip and then when I use it at home it brings me back to vacation and the peace that I had during that time. :)

I've tried making food similar to what I had on vacation and it's really fun. I also look at my pictures A LOT.

April--I LOVE your sensory memory plan. That's fantastic!

This is so interesting. I have usually have always been happy to be home except this time. I returned on the 15th and have been depressed since. I have tried to incorporate a few "european" ways of life to get me out of my funk besides my scrapbooks and photos.

1. I bought a shopping trolley like the ones they use in Paris and walk to Trader Joes now (super fun!)

2. I use my tea towels I bought as souvenirs as well as my tea cups and serve them on a tray with morning coffe. My husband says "wow, so fancy"

3. I have "afternoon tea" now.

4. We watch movies with places that we visited. For instance we watched "An Education" last night and when Jenny bought a book from the vendor along the Siene near Nortre Dame my husband and I could not contain our excitement from knowing exactly where she was.

This has really helped me but not enough. I cannot wait to go back!

Well Suzann - now that we know that we both work for the same organization, maybe you are blue cause you're back at "Blue" !! :-)
However, I always feel the same way - you anticipate and plan for so long -then you go and the holiday time passes so quickly. Where did you go on this trip? And I think you'll feel better if you start planning next years so you have something to look forward to again. I'm counting down - and today I went under 200!! Only 199 days to go......UGH

I start planning my next trip, even if its a year away. I map out places to go and see, and go online (facebook, etc) and try to virtually meet people in those areas. That way, I have something to look forward to and friendships to make and alot of insider info on the places I plan on visiting (I travel alone so this is a really fun part for me! I met the same friends from Facebook in London on my last two trips there so far and plan on visiting other countries next!)

If you don't know the language(s) already, enroll in a language class at a local college or adult education center. If you do know the languages, do some searches online for local groups that get together and speak the language.

If nothing else, the challenge of juggling various verb tenses and remembering whether "fork" is feminine or masculine should keep you busy!

I leave my backpack still packed for about a month before it gets cleaned out. And I buy the biggest jar of nutella that I can find and put in on croissants until the jar is empty. And then I can move on with life.

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I do like the ideas about the food and body lotions/perfume. I bought a cookbook and seasonings in Italy and made the first recipe last night. Actually there was a perfume I found on our trips but didn't buy, hopefully I can get it online.

The language idea is great, my husband and I always say we should take a German class together but never get around to it. Maybe this would be good for both of us. I currently do alot of community service as that is part of my husband's job, but maybe a different area of helping would be a nice change.

I am glad to know that I am not the only one who feels this way after vacations. I am fortunate to be in a situation where I can go on vacations. However, Elaine is right, so much time was consumed prior to my trip with planning and research that now I have all this free time (I felt the same way after graduating college). Now I have ideas how to keep myself busy. Thanks!

Suzann - I took a conversational French class with my daughter at American River College (only 1 evening per week). She talked me into it, then suggested we go to Paris for New Years that year. Sure...twist my arm... In no way am I fluent, but it certainly enhanced our trip. I don't know if ARC, Folsom Lake or Sierra have conversational German classes, but it would be easy enough to find out.

I am always thinking about where I want to travel to next. It might be several trips out, but it helps me look ahead rather than be depressed about the trips that are over. I love the idea of cooking foods from where you went and trying to adopt the European way of life. It's hard for us in the burbs to walk everywhere, but you can always shop at the farmers markets, etc.

I love to talk travel with anyone and everyone. Maybe we can plan a Sacramento area monthly get together like the Denver area people have. Would you be interested?

That sounds fun Andrea. We are doing a motorhome trip to Seattle and Canada for summer 2011. I will let you know when in Sacramento!

I love the idea of creating censory memories, that's brilliant. It happens organically for me but sort of planning it is a great idea. I usually participate in forums and try to answer questions. Usually I've picked up a couple tips along the way and it helps me remember my trip but also hopefully helps someone else.

Being blue after a trip has never crossed my mind. We are so busy catching up on what went undone while we were gone that we never have time to be blue. Besides, I love my life at home. Why would I be blue about having been able to take a great trip? After a while, I start thinking about where to go next. We do love to travel, but we love being home even more.

For me...no brainer. Paris, glamorous, dressed up every evening, Wine, fabulous romantic dinners, sight seeing, not a care in the world.

Home...kids, gym, pets, housework, laundry, cooking dinner, homework, repeat.

Thats why I am blue when I return.

I read a book (usually historic fiction) that's set in the place I just returned from. I came back from London and immediately began re-reading London by Edward Rutherford. Now I'm more familiar with the places/people/events that are part of this story. Returning from Alaska, I read "IF you lived here, I'd know your name" and smiled the entire time. AND I BORE MY FRIENDS SILLY TALKING ABOUT MY TRIP! They should have gone with me :)