Ok, guys, there is an end in sight to COVID and we may actually be able to start long term travel again here in the near future! Something that always comes along with a multi-month trip is travel burnout. It may seem impossible to get burnt out from doing something as amazing as traveling, but believe me, it happens more often than you think! Travel burnout is real, and I usually do the following things once, or twice, every 3 months. It keeps me sane, and able to stay on the road much longer!
When you travel on a budget, as I often do, hostels are definitely part of your experience. So picture this. You wake up, with people. You have breakfast, with people. You go see the city, there’s people all around you. You go back to your hostel room, there’re people. Your only privacy comes from a cloth you have managed to jerry-rig to your bunk blocking you from the rest of the room. Go to bed, get woken up by the random person 2 bunks over snoring. Wake up, repeat. Doesn’t this sound exhausting?! It’s totally fine and doable for awhile, but sometimes you just need a break!
As backpackers, sometimes we tend to underestimate the importance of little comfortable alone time.
(Bohol, Philippines) AND it was only $70USD/night
Find a Place that Feels Comfortable
Pick a city in your travels where you feel good about spending a few days nurturing your travel burnout. Whether you have already spent time there or you plan on spending time there.
I prefer a place I have already spent time in, as I am not as inclined to want to go out and do all the touristy things when I am supposed to be having my R&R time!
Treat Yourself
- Book an Airbnb or nice accommodation for a few days (protip: make sure the bed looks super comfy or skim reviews for how good/bad the bed is, you’ll thank me later). Spend the extra money. The point is to relax and escape. A lot of times I find myself in a crowded hostel with several other people. Getting a room/house on my own already helps with the travel burnout.
- If you do find yourself NOT wanting to spend the extra money, try just getting a private room in a hostel. They tend to be pretty cheap, but you still get the luxury of privacy and a normal size bed.
- Get a massage or go for a spa day! If not that then do something that makes YOU feel good! One time in El Nido, Philippines I got a hotel right on the beach, and every morning I woke up early, went for a run, came back had coffee and made a giant fruit bowl for breakfast. It was perfect and just the break I needed.
- If you want something a little longer and a bit more of an experience you could always book a retreat or yoga teacher training in a tranquil and relaxing destination.
Allow Yourself Some Creature Comforts
- Get your iPad out and watch a movie or some Netflix (you may need a VPN in some countries). Binge watch a show you have been missing!
- If you booked a place with a kitchen (which I highly recommend doing), grab some groceries and cook yourself a nice meal! We take for granted how nice cooking for ourselves is. It can be quite relaxing, too! My go to travel burnout meal is always pasta and veggies, for dinner. The ingredients are pretty easy to find in most countries, its quick, and it reminds me of home! However, utilizing things the country thrives in is always a treat too! Like buying local fruit for a fruit bowl or using local spices to zest up your meal!
REST
The whole point of this vacation from traveling is to recharge and boost motivation! Take all the time you need, but make sure you are taking full advantage.
- Take a break from travel: This is why I recommend settling in a place you have already been to, so you aren’t tempted to go do some touristy things.
- Catch up on things you have been meaning to do. Maybe call your loved ones back at home, update your gram, read a book, write in your journal.
- SLEEP: Sleep as much as you need while you have your own, quiet, comfortable, space! This is rest time, you don’t have to worry about which attraction, museum, historic sight etc. to go see. You have chance to get uninterrupted sleep, take advantage!
So, the moral of the story is, it is OK to get travel burnout! Don’t be hard on yourself if you start to feel it. There are ways to remedy it so you may continue on your epic travel journey with a renewed sense of wanderlust!
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