Embracing the Art of Reentry: 5 Tips to Readjusting to Life After Your Travel Adventures
I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Portugal to solidify a few final details before I take a group of Roamers there in June. Porto is such a charming city, and I have to admit that I felt a bit sad upon returning to the States. This feeling isn't new to me - it happens pretty much every time I travel - and it probably isn't new to you either. Travel is often an exhilarating experience. It expands our sense of the world, allows us to leave daily obligations behind, and leaves us with memories that can't be replicated. So it's no wonder that we feel a bit "meh" when we have to return to real life.
So how do we deal with this sense of sadness and loss? Here are some tactics I use to smooth my return home after traveling, and help it sting a bit less. Hope they help you too!
1. CAPTURE YOUR REFLECTIONS
This is the number one way I like to help the shift from travel to home. If you're not documenting your thoughts, feelings and insights while traveling, this is the time to start. Being able to look back through journal entries, photos, videos and ephemera from my trips always helps me feel gratitude for the travel experiences I've been fortunate enough to have. It also allows me a way to "revisit" places when I need a bit of mental escape.
2. CREATE A TRANSITION ZONE IN YOUR HOME
Designate a certain area in your home as a transitional space. Use it as a place to store mementos, souvenirs, photos and more that help you maintain a connection to your past travels. Every time you move through this area in your home, you’ll be reminded of the incredible experiences you’ve had.
3. GRANT YOURSELF SOME GRACE & EASE BACK INTO THINGS SLOWLY
If at all possible when you return from a trip, avoid the urge to dive back into your regular routines immediately. Take some time to allow readjustment. It's okay if you don't unpack immediately, need to order takeout for dinner the first night, or sleep a bit longer than usual (hello jetlag!). Prioritize your self-care, and incorporate things that bring joy and relaxation into your life the first few days back home.
4. EXPLORE CULINARY TRADITIONS AT HOME
Trying to replicate or recreate dishes you tasted while abroad can be an inspired way to soothe the post-return blues. If you're feeling particularly motivated you can even plan a themed dinner for friends or family, where you share the cultural richness of your travels with others through food.
5. SHARE YOUR ADVENTURES
And lastly - engage in conversations with friends and family about your adventures. Share what your favorite moments and experiences were so that they have a better sense of what you loved so much about your time away. It can often be difficult to encapsulate what makes a place so special, but it can equally be fun to share moments that stand out in your mind as definitive and unique to a place.
As you readjust to the rhythm of daily life, remember that the journey doesn't truly end when you return home – it continues through the memories you've created and the connections you've forged. By embracing these five tips, may you seamlessly transition from the adventures abroad to the warmth of your home, carrying the essence of your travels with you.
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hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
Roam & Gather is a small travel company offering soul-nourishing, curated travel experiences that help connect people with global communities, like-minded travelers and themselves.
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