Post-Trip Blues: Hacks for Coming Home After Solo Travel

The Hardest Part of Solo Travel: Coming Home

You’ve just returned from an unforgettable trip — shopping without your kids complaining of boredom or your spouse keeping tabs on what you're spending, hitting the spa at a resort after your divorce to decide what's next for you in this new chapter, or a courageous solo trip where you had more fun adventures than you've had in years taking you back to your youth after the loss of a spouse or partner. Simply said, you've been soaking in the freedom of doing things your way for once after putting everyone else before you. You were living fully, setting your own schedule, and rediscovering parts of yourself that everyday life often buries.

And then the trip is over and you walk through your front door.

The magic fades quickly as you’re greeted not by breathtaking views, but by overflowing laundry, a stack of unopened mail, and a work inbox where everything is high importance because colleagues didn't take care of requests while you were out. Your suitcase sits like a silent judgmental friend, waiting to be unpacked. But you're pulling your eye makeup remover out of it because who has time to put everything away now.

Re-entry after solo travel can feel overwhelming — even deflating. You go from being the main character in your own story to suddenly juggling everyone else’s needs again. But it doesn’t have to feel like crashing back to Earth. Here are a few practical ways to make your return smoother, gentler, and more joyful.

1. Give Yourself Permission to Ease Back In

The biggest mistake most travelers make is thinking they have to “catch up” the moment they land. You don’t.

Yes, laundry needs doing. Mail needs sorting. Meals need making. But it doesn't all have to happen in the first 24 hours.
Start by prioritizing what truly matters — maybe that’s unpacking your toothbrush so you can use it and tossing a load of essentials in the wash. The rest can wait.

Remind yourself: you’re not being lazy. You’re allowing your mind and body to transition from the pace of travel back into routine life.

Travel takes energy — both physical and emotional — and it’s okay to give yourself a buffer to recover.

2. Make Re-Entry Meals Simple

One of the hardest parts of coming home is realizing that no one is making breakfast for you anymore (and that the fridge is almost empty).

Make this transition easier by planning ahead for your return before you leave. Keep a few “welcome home” meals ready to go — like a package of chicken tenders or breasts at the top of the freezer. You can toss these into a crockpot with rice and mixed veggies. You’ll walk in, start a slow cooker meal, and by dinnertime you’ll have something warm, comforting, and nourishing instead of burnt take-out.

Other easy ideas:

• Frozen soups or stews portioned before your trip.
• A pre-made casserole in the freezer that you can thaw and pop into the oven.
• A few ready-to-go smoothie packs with berries and banana portioned out that you can dump in the blender, add almond milk, and blend giving you fruits & veggies like spinach.

You don’t need to go from vacation to gourmet chef overnight.

3. Unpack with Intention

Instead of dreading the unpacking, turn it into a ritual of gratitude. As you take each item out of your suitcase, think about the memories attached — those earrings you bought from a local store that will remind you of this trip bringing a smile every time you put them on, the sand from Cannon Beach still stuck in your sandals as you shake your shoe bag out outside, and the journal you filled with stories while leisurely sipping hot tea starting at boats going out in the morning when visiting Lake of the Ozarks.

This small act turns unpacking from a chore into a mindful transition. It’s your way of honoring what the trip gave you and gently closing that chapter.

4. Protect Your Post-Trip Energy

After solo travel, you’ve probably stretched yourself in new ways — emotionally, physically, maybe even spiritually. You’ve experienced freedom, spontaneity, and silence. When you return home, protect that energy.

If you can, schedule at least one “buffer day” before diving back into work. Use it for rest, reflection, or simply doing nothing productive.
If that’s not possible, block off small recharging pockets in your schedule — a morning walk feeling the sun, journaling with your coffee, or an early bedtime. This is not the week to plan evenings out with friends or attending school activities after working all day.

Re-entry is not just about catching up on tasks — it’s about reintegrating the new you with the life you left behind.

5. Recreate a Little of What You Loved

One reason returning home feels so hard is that travel lets us live differently — we linger over meals, talk to new connections including others on our hop on, hop off city tour, explore new places, and say “yes” more often. You can bring some of that magic home.

If you loved café mornings, create a weekend ritual of trying new coffee spots in your hometown.
If you thrived on adventure, plan small local outings — a new park, a nearby trail, or a museum you’ve never visited. You can be a tourist in the area you live in too!
If you loved solitude, carve out “solo hours” weekly for reading, reflection, or just being.

You don’t have to travel to keep living like a traveler.

6. Reframe the Post-Trip Blues

Feeling down after travel doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful —it means the trip mattered. It changed you.

Instead of fighting the post-trip blues, acknowledge them. Write about what you miss, what you learned, and how you want to carry that growth forward.

Your solo travel wasn’t just an escape — it was a reminder that you’re capable, brave, and worthy of joy.

7. Plan Your Next Adventure (Even If It’s Small)

The best cure for post-travel slump? Something to look forward to.

It doesn’t have to be another big trip — even a weekend getaway or a “solo Saturday” can rekindle that sense of excitement.

Give yourself permission to dream again. You don’t need permission from anyone else to plan your next chapter and your next adventure.

Closing Thought

Coming home is part of the journey — but it doesn’t have to erase the joy of your travels. With a little intention, you can make re-entry softer, gentler, and even meaningful.

Remember: travel doesn’t just happen when you’re away. It’s a mindset — and you can bring that same spirit of adventure home with you. Make sure you're signed up for my solo travel tips to make the most of your adventures at www.TravelWithJoyTV.com/newsletter.

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