I’ve been home for nearly three weeks now. And lately, there is this insidious feeling I’ve been drifting in and out of.

From a friend:

Re-entry shock, or reverse culture shock, can sometimes be harder than the initial culture shock of traveling. You are different, but you have returned to your previous world and life; and everything else is the same.

That’s exactly it. I’m picking up where I’ve left off… Except, I am not the same.

If you Google “Post-Travel Depression,” many results come up, a reminder that this is apparently a common thing that travelers experience when returning home. It sounds like a part of the human condition. So, at least I’m not alone there.

There is no solid time period on how long it takes to decompress from post-travel depression. I thought it would be over with by now. I’ve learned that it’s more realistic to not give a time frame when it comes to processing emotions, because those have a mind of their own.

Sure, there are forums and meet-ups with other travelers that you could join to commiserate. Most likely, setting back out into the world isn’t feasible. There are more realistic ways to cope with the travel blues. Here’s what I’ve been doing:

1. Unpack everything and put it all away immediately. You may not feeling your best after coming back from being gone for so long, but I’ve found that less clutter means more productivity in the long run. Plus, it’s a relatively small thing to do.
2. Exercising and eating well. This is highly obvious, no matter where in the world you are. If you took cooking classes abroad, now is a perfect time to wow your friends with your worldly culinary prowess. There’s also nothing like being buzzed on your own endorphins from exercising.
3. Ease back into work/productivity. After you’ve tackled the little things (like #1), settling back in becomes a little more bearable. Don’t be like me and hit the ground running. Trying to take on a lot after returning sounds like a nice distraction from post-travel depression, but eventually you run out of fuel because you need to take care of yourself first.
4. Take a mini road trip or day trip to another town or city. I don’t know about you, but I can’t just stop going to places abruptly. This provided a little break from suddenly coming back. My best friend and I did a little day trip to Portland, OR–a three hour drive from Seattle.
5. Reflect on your travels. All those little ticket stubs and momentos can be arranged in a scrap book. It can help to write out these changes that take place within.
6. Keep in touch with friends you met abroad… With social media available at our fingertips, it keeps getting easier to keep in touch with new friends made from all over the world. Even better, send them candy or treats from your country along with a handwritten note. They’ll love that.
7. …While seeing all of your friends at home. Go to museums, art walks, take a hike, or even make dinner together (see #2). Your friends will be happy to see you and will want to hear all about your stories from abroad.
8. Make future plans. It can be pretty disorienting to suddenly come back. Free falling like this is scary at times, especially when you’ve come back to your old life and you’re in between jobs. Having plans at least gives structure.

Coming home wasn’t what I had expected. I’ve experienced post-vacation sadness before, but nothing ever like this. After facing the unknowns for three months and really living life in a way I never have before, it has been hard settling back into the familiar. There is no shortcut around these emotions either.

The only way out is through.