Post-holiday blues: 5 tips to combat “re-entry syndrome”

adminonAugust 11, 2023August 22, 2023Leave a Comment

Post-holiday blues: 5 tips to combat the "re-entry syndrome"

Travel is an extremely positive activity for mental and physical health. But unfortunately, all the positive feelings we experience on vacation begin to fade as soon as we board our return flight and risk falling victim to the so-called re-entry syndrome.

Do you know? That feeling, a mixed between despair and sadness, when we return home from a fabulous trip and find it difficult to get used to everyday life again.

The post-holiday blues, or re-entry syndrome actually, it can be more or less severe depending on how intense and long the travel experience was, and is characterized by a general decline in well-being and work productivity after a satisfying vacation.

Post-holiday blues symptoms include frequent crying upon return, fatigue, boredom, nostalgia, anxiety and stress.

Returning to work, school and everyday life can indeed be a source of anxiety, disorientation and discomfort.

But as uncomfortable as it may be, this re-entry syndrome can be overcome with a little determination, self-care and a few tricks of the trade.

Here are 5 tips to overcome the post-holiday blues.

How to overcome the re-entry syndrome

pianificare viaggio

1. Plan your next trip

The happiest part of vacation may not be (just) the vacation itself, but the moments leading up to it.

According to a 2010 study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality Of Life, even planning a trip alone can lead to greater feelings of happiness.

And if you've just returned from vacation and gone straight to work, you know you're not alone in wanting to buy tickets back and leave.

According to a Travelzoo survey, 69% of vacations are sought and booked during work hours.

So what better way to overcome your return sadness than to plan your next trip?

2. Reconnect with friends and family

When you return from vacation, you often feel the need to have (or give) more meaning to your life. If you also feel these emotions, try to spend time with friends and family.

Also consider reconnecting with old acquaintances to share a meal or conversation. This way you can begin to feel your world taking shape again.

But why is it so important to spend time with loved ones?

Connection is an essential part of our lives, and vacations are often a time of deep connection with those we visit or travel with.

Therefore, it's important to maintain a sense of connection when you return to everyday life.

vino compagnia

3. Detox after the vacation

One of the best parts of a trip is the opportunity to try new foods and taste to the last new flavor. When we're on vacation, it's normal not to face the diet.

And if we suffer from re-entry syndrome, we probably also come back we tend to enjoy what we allowed on vacation: Wine, greasy food and desserts of all kinds.

Give it a try A gentle food detox could help you feel better physically and mentally.

When you return from vacation, your body usually craves fruits and vegetables, so give it what it needs.

Take a break from rich and heavy buffets by avoiding takeout and preparing healthy dinners.

Preparing a meal in your own kitchen can really help get us back on track and a healthier eating routine back on track.

Sexy beautiful woman relaxing on pier with sea view

4. Find time to relax

Sometimes it took vacation to recover from vacation. Do not agree?!

That's why when you get back from your trip It's important not to go back to work right away, but on the contrary, find time to relax.

Sure, it's not always possible to find the time or resources to get away from it all, but there are easy ways to recreate the atmosphere of a vacation home.

A hot bath It is a natural relaxant that can also reduce the feeling of loneliness. In addition, various studies show that a short walk in the fresh air it can lift your mood even when you least expect it.

Another tip to recreate the sense of well-being we experience on vacation is to practice mindfulness and do breathing exercises. These exercises can actually help you feel more in control of your life and better balance the rhythm of the day.

5. Frame and share your favorite photos

Back home and rebooted with your usual routine, take some time to look at all the photos you took on vacation.

If you wait too long to review, download and share your travel photos, you take the risk forget the rich details of the trip itself.

So instead of mourning the loss of those breathtaking views, relive your vacation by creating a photo album that reminds you of the best moments and why you love traveling so much.

Choose the most meaningful photos and frame them or share them on social media.

cell phone

The own cell phone in Australia (engl. mobile phone) or to take your smartphone with you on vacation is becoming more and more popular among travelers. Of course, such a mobile phone offers a lot of advantages. However, one must not forget that the reception of the red continent is limited in certain regions. If you are in large cities, this is of course no problem. In the Australian outback, however, the situation is quite different. Nevertheless, we would now like to list what to pay attention to when calling with a cell phone or smartphone in Australia and how to get away with it most cheaply.

Current contracts

It is definitely not advisable to take your cell phone with the current contract to Australia, because it will be much more expensive for the caller as well as for the called party than with an Australian prepaid card or an Australian contract. A contract is only worthwhile if you stay down under for a year or more and make a lot of domestic calls. Whether you can put your current contract on hold for a certain period of time is entirely up to the provider. So there is nothing left to do but to inquire with the contracting party and hope that you can do this without much cost or effort.

Australian prepaid cards

If you don't want to do without your smartphone or cell phone during your trip, you can simply exchange your German SIM card for an Australian prepaid card. These can be bought in any specialized trade. Prerequisite for this is that the phone has no Sim-Lock. If it should be the case, it is advisable to buy a "cheap cell phone" for on the way. If you decide to buy a cell phone in Australia, you can choose the relatively cheap models, which already include a prepaid card. The disadvantage of buying a prepaid SIM card in Australia is that you first have to muddle through the entire offer to find the most suitable product.

The best known providers of prepaid cards are Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile, whereby Telstra is the market leader and therefore offers the best coverage (see: Telstra State Coverage Map). Furthermore, Lebara is recommended for overseas calls, because you can call home very cheaply and without connection fees and also has a decent network coverage. Where exactly the network is, you can check at GSM World (enter country and look under Coverage Map). Otherwise, the providers just mentioned do not take each other much. The rates are often comparable and the effort after the research is not very high. You go to a store, buy a card, get it activated and you can make calls. Nevertheless, you should always read the corresponding conditions, because the credit is often time-bound and therefore expires after a certain time.

Recommendation: Cheap prepaid SIM cards for cell phones & smartphone

In order to minimize the research work, to facilitate the decision making and to save the valuable time on the spot, we offer through our German speaking partner in Australia very good value prepaid SIM cards as well as convenient SIM packages, which can be ordered already from home. Furthermore, a very good WiFi box as well as an extremely practical WiFi plug are available to have WLAN everywhere and at any time when traveling – even via a cigarette lighter in the car or campervan. If you are interested in these products, you should definitely take a closer look at our overview in the following article:

Swakopmund surroundings in Namibia

The region Swakopmund surrounding is scenically very diverse. Stony and sandy deserts predominate, as well as savannah landscapes and the mountain rise of the great rim stage. Especially the parts of this region that are located in the Namib Naukluft Park or the Dorob National Park are attractive.

Climate of the Swakopmund area

The climate of this region is characterized by the interplay of the Atlantic Ocean and the desert. Due to the cold Benguela current on the Atlantic coast, temperatures in the region drop sharply compared to the interior of the country. The prevailing southwesterly wind is cooled by the Benguela Current to such an extent that there is no cloud formation at high altitude. However, a fog bank develops over the Atlantic Ocean, which lingers over the coastal strip for an average of 200 days a year and can often penetrate a few kilometers inland.

Flora and fauna in the area around Swakopmund

Especially in the Namib Desert there are many animal and plant species that have adapted perfectly to the climate. The endemic fog drinker (Onymacris unguicularis), for example, stands on its head and tries to generate drinking water by condensing the fog on its own body. The Welwitschia Mirabilis, which is often found in the Swakopmund area, can live for hundreds of years and can be found in the national coat of arms of Namibia.

Places of interest in the Swakopmund area

Here you will find an overview of activities, highlights and sights in the Swakopmund region. Namib Naukluft Park is home to Sandwich Harbour, where the dunes of the Namib Desert merge with the waves of the Atlantic Ocean in a particularly charming way. There are many specimens of Welwitschia Mirabilis and an exciting desert research station. At Cape Cross in Dorob National Park there is one of the world's largest seal colonies.

Accommodation in the Swakopmund area

Lodge and camping at the Kreuzkap seal colony

Cape Cross Lodge is located about 120 km north of Swakopmund. The lodge offers 18 standard rooms with sea view and 2 luxurious suites, also with sea view as well as 21 tent sites. Cape Cross Lodge organizes various tours including excursions to Messum Crater and the seal colony, as well as fishing trips and boat cruises.

Private guest farm and mountain camp (closed until further notice!)

Kobo Kobo Hills is a guest farm in the Namib Desert, about 160 km east of Swakopmund. The guest farm offers full board in thatched bungalows or North African style cottages. Kobo Kobo Hills offers a variety of activities, such as.B. Hiking, abseiling, walking, game and nature drives, bird watching, horse riding and weekend courses for photographers.

Hotel at "Long Beach between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund

As the name suggests, the lodge is located in the small village of Langstrand, right on the beach between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. It houses 17 rooms, a bar, a terrace and a swimming pool. The dunes of the Namib Desert are only 500 meters away, as is the sandy beach of the Atlantic Ocean.

Lodge near Swakopmund

Rossmund Lodge is located on the north bank of the Swakop Dry River just 6 km from the coastal town of Swakopmund. The lodge is part of the beautifully situated Rossmund Golf Course in the Namib and one of only five registered desert grass golf courses worldwide.

Hotel at the "Langstrand between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

The Burning Shore is located between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in a small village called Langstrand and between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean. The Burning Shore offers 12 luxurious rooms and meals are served either in the cozy restaurant or in the fresh air on the deck.

Desert spring