You’ve traversed different lands, been blown away by new sights and cultures, crossed something off your bucket list and met some great new friends in the process. But as that famous saying goes, all good things come to an end, which in the world of holidays can only mean one thing…you have to go home.
After even the most enthusiastic wine-tasting tour of the French vineyards or the most potent Greek Ouzo, nothing is as deadly as the Holiday Hangover. Sweaty palms, nausea and a general feeling of dread about returning to mundane everyday life are among the key symptoms of this unfortunate predicament. So, if your motivation deserted you the moment you set foot back on British soil and your Holiday Hangover has arrived with a vengeance, don’t worry, you’re not alone – here are some tips to help you pull through it…
1) Plan Your Next Escorted Tour – Like drinking a Bloody Mary the morning after a few too many Spanish sangrias, planning another tour is the holiday makers’ hair of the dog. Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like getting over one fantastic experience than planning another. Whether you want to see the jaw-dropping aurora borealis on escorted tours to Norway or people watch with a cool beer on the cobbled streets of Bruges, seize the day and sit down, re-write that bucket list and start organising your next trip away. Not only will it give you something to look forward to, but it’ll keep you motivated. What’s more, most companies offer early booking discounts and don’t require payment until 8 weeks before travel, so getting organised early could even pay off.
2) The Magic of Music – They say that music heals the soul, and they’re not wrong. When your Holiday Hangover starts to emerge, grab your earphones and take solace in music that reminds you of your trip. Remember that memorising piece of music you heard at the Verona opera or that song you listened to with the mountains of Switzerland unfolding around you? Find it, listen to it, savour it. Let it transport you back to that happy place.
3) Fuel Your Hangover – Food is a great cure for any hangover, and the Holiday Hangover is no exception. Pining for Tuscan Panzanella or Peruvian ceviche? Don’t wait for another trip to experience them – get them to come to you. If you didn’t manage to take a cooking course while you were away, hunt down your favourite recipes on Google, arm yourself with a list and hit the nearest supermarket to recreate your favourite foreign fare at home. If you’re not a great cook, just make a beeline for the chilled aisle. You’re bound to find a microwavable Pad Thai or Austrian rösti somewhere in amongst the shepherd’s pie…
4) Mummify Your Memories – With pre-holiday life about to grab you by the shoulders quicker than you can say ‘coach holidays’, now’s the time to preserve your holiday memories before you get sucked back into every-day life. Shortlist your favourite photos and get them turned into a desk calendar/life-sized poster/mouse mat/mug while the memories are still fresh in your mind. Frame those postcards you never got round to sending or showcase those fridge magnets you picked up. The next time you’re having a less than favourable day, just the very sight of you propping up the Leaning Tower of Pisa (see above) as you’re reaching in the fridge for the marg won’t fail to put a smile on your face.
5) Learn Some Lingo – At some point during your tour, you probably realised how much our European counterparts put us Brits to shame when it comes to speaking other languages. While you were grappling with (and mispronouncing) the word for ‘hello’ in Flemish, the foreigners you met over the world were probably holding fluent conversations with you in English. Wouldn’t it nice to talk to other people in their own language for a change? Who knows, learning another language could help you on your next adventure…