8 tips to cure those dreaded post-holiday blues

Steve MadgwickBy Steve Madgwick
hero media
If holidays are the best of times, it follows that the days after returning home are the worst of times. Here are the tips you need to help you cure that post-travel downer…

If you’ve just fought your way back to work after a wonderful Christmas break, you’ll know that the January fugue is a genuine thing, exacerbated by a new-found yuletide spread across the tummy, a bank account malaise and the fact that everyone but you still seems to be on holidays.

 

A survey by Booking.com reveals that almost three quarters of respondents say that holidays are indeed the most wonderful time of the year. Not only are the Chrissie holidays “more vital for our happiness than other big life occasions" but they also “bring more lasting happiness than material things".

 

So if you’re feeling low, restless and listless, these eight tips will help you get your mojo back.

1. Plan the next one

You may not be able to afford it yet, but even the act of travel planning triggers a Pavlovian response. Even research is enough, with 79 per cent of the people polled by Booking.com saying that just scrolling through pictures of beautiful destinations and beautiful accommodation helps them to feel happy.

2. Settle home quickly

As soon as you open the front door, unpack, stock the fridge and introduce at least a few elements of your daily routine as soon as you can (without going overboard). The more organised and comfortable you are, the easier the transition will be.

3. Take work one step at a time

Embrace the fact that you are not going to tick off every single item on your work to-do list in the first day/week back. Set achievable goals and, if you are feeling particularly delicate (and have a day’s leave spare), consider scheduling in a ‘buffer Monday’.

4. Don’t be a vampire

One reason for holiday happiness is that we spend more time in natural daylight and get our vitamin D fill instead of being imprisoned in a badly lit office. Actually take your lunch break and go for a stroll around the park as a minimum.

5. Take small social steps

OK, so the break decimated your credit card, but there is nothing worse for the doldrums than facing an utterly blank diary until Easter. You have to look forward, even it’s just for simple treats like a night at the movies or a splurge at your go-to restaurant.

6. Call in back-up

Why do you love being at home in the first place? Your family and friends, of course. Keep the holiday alive in your head by retelling the stories and flicking through your photos with like-minded mates (slide night!). If they are your real friends, they will be interested – or at least pretend to be.

7. Wellbeing: the clue is in the name

Post-holiday punish, there are certain routines that you need to get back into immediately for your health. Get into your sleep pattern, return to healthy eating and, we hate to be the bearer of bad news but, it’s time to get off your arse and exercise.

8. Release the resolutions

You loved your holiday so intensely because everything seemed shiny and new, so it’s time to activate those obscure New Year’s resolutions that you’ve been putting off forever. Try something new but not necessarily sensible: take up the French horn, learn Tibetan or volunteer somewhere that makes you feel good about yourself.

Steve Madgwick
See all articles
inside a room at The Mondrian
Australia

Your guide to the best accommodation around Australia for every type of traveller

Whether you’re after the perfect family holiday or after something a little more romantic, Accor has the stay for you.

Read more
Woman in bath at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa
Australia

This serene Victorian bathhouse retreat just made MICHELIN’s best hotels list

This wellness-first stay is MICHELIN’S latest obsession.

Read more
Full moon over Surfers Paradise
Australia

A Snow Moon is rising over Australia this weekend – here’s where to spot it

On Sunday 1 February, a Snow Moon will shine above Australia. We've rounded up the best spots to see this extra-bright full moon in every state.

Read more
The ultimate guide to summer festivals around Australia
Australia

The ultimate guide to summer festivals around Australia

These are the summer festivals you’ll be talking about long after the season ends.

Read more
hero media

The Gold Rush town that’s become Victoria’s best country escape for foodies

    Jocelyn PrideBy Jocelyn Pride
    Continue
    The well-preserved Gold Rush town where an idyllic country vibe meets the best of city living.

    Cafe culture

    ‘Slow down’ is the mantra of Tortoise Espresso , and it’s apt for anyone visiting town. This local coffee hangout was the brainchild of Lloyd Meadows, who at 16 started it as a hole in the wall of an old pub. Five years on, it graces a fine shopfront with a menu of around 60 different coffees. Other one-off centrally located daytime cafes, such as Saffs, Togs, Saint Florian and Lazy Bones, are tucked into historic buildings and serve creative menus featuring local produce. A personal favourite is Origini, where chef Luca Sartori brings a taste of northern Italy to his rustic restaurant. For the best banh mi outside Vietnam head to Super Hero, and the pastries at Johnny Baker are legendary.

    the Saint Florian Cafe, Castlemaine
    Saint Florian is one of many businesses tucked away in a historic building. (Image: Griffin Simm)

    On the town’s fringe you’ll find some treasured cafes: Blackbird. Grist, Doveton Corner Store, and the cosy Aitken’s Corner. The Mill precinct also brings another dimension to Castlemaine. Located directly opposite the beautiful Botanical Gardens, this once-derelict woollen mill is a hive of creativity and collaboration. Retaining an industrial feel, it is home to a myriad of 44 unique businesses, galleries and studios that stretch over the three-hectare site.

    Brilliant brews, bars and food

    diners at The Mill, Castlemaine
    The Mill is home to many local businesses. (Image: Visit Victoria/Michelle Jarni)

    The Mill is also home to one of Castlemaine’s bespoke breweries, Shedshaker Brewing Company and Taproom. Within the sensitively restored walls of the oldest part of the building (circa 1875), small-batch, handcrafted beer features alongside fine wholesome food and live music.

    A more recent newcomer to the brewing scene is Love Shack . Starting small as a laneway pop-up in 2021, visionaries Conna Mallett and Harry Cox were armed with a Melbourne beer culture pedigree, which helped them create a great new ‘pub’ that feels as though it’s been there since the 1850s. Other atmospheric bars and restaurants are dotted around town – Grafting Cellars for local wines by the pour; buzzy Mostyn Street Cellars; Table Records plays vinyl on weekends; and the quirky Maurocco bar is not to be missed.

    food and drinks at Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro, Castlemaine
    The nostalgic Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro serves comfort food. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    For food you’ll write home about, the hatted Bar Midland serves exquisite dishes from Victorian-only produce. The freshly renovated Wild is located in the original firestation, Voor Ouker specialises in Indonesian/Dutch fusion, and the Railway Hotel oozes English pub charm.

    the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
    Theatre Royal is the longest continually operating theatre on the mainland. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

    Much-loved Teatro Regio, found in the magnificent Theatre Royal , is the go-to for pizzas with a twist. As mainland Australia’s longest continually running theatre, this grand dame is also one of more than a dozen performance spaces that add to a rich and diverse entertainment and festival scene.

    pizza at Theatre Royal
    Dine before a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria)

    Quirky country stays

    Quirky, authentic and perfectly located, the Midland Hotel is a private hotel that dates back to 1879. Each of the nine rooms at the Northern Arts Hotel is different and named in honour of an Australian artist. Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation also has a range of properties to suit all types of travellers.