It’s that time of year again where the aroma of pumpkin spice lattes fill the air; you are reluctantly carrying an umbrella, in case the unpredictable British weather decides to drench you, on your way back from lectures and nostalgic holiday pics with captions like ‘take me back’ litter your Instagram feed. The thought of lying on a sun lounger, cocktail in hand, with your biggest worry being to remember to reapply sun cream, feels like a distant memory. Now it’s time to get back to normality and although it can be a struggle, here are some useful tips to help handle post-holiday blues:

Plan your next one:

Make a list of your dream destinations, kind of like a holiday bucket list, then choose where you want to go next. One of the best ways to combat feeling low is to have something to look forward to so why not get thinking about next year; if that feels like too long to wait, after submitting all those gruelling assessments, treat yourself to a mini-break at the end of the term. 

Self-care: 

Potentially one of the most overlooked things in our daily lives; it is so important to indulge in your own mental, physical, and emotional well-being.  Practicing things like mindfulness, relaxation, and meditation can really help overcome feelings of blues. Sometimes, the best thing to do is let your emotions out and have a good cry; knowing the cathartic release will help you to express your emotions instead of suppressing feelings of despair. 

Reminisce on your holiday: 

With the growth of mobile phone use to take photos, it is easy to forget certain things that happened on your holiday. Remember when you were a kid and your parents/carers would get the photos developed; you would all sit together and laugh over the photo of your sister buried in the sand. If you get your photos printed and stick them all over your walls, you can be reminded of the happy memories and look forward to recreating them in new locations. 

Make plans with family or friends:

There is so much to do in Birmingham; as the second-largest city in the country, you can practically do anything you like from ghetto golf to grabbing a pint down the pub. Do a quick google search of things to do near me and the possibilities are endless. Meeting up with your friends from home or your family can be a real mood booster for some. Taking a trip home for the weekend to recharge your batteries could leave you feeling refreshed and ready to forget about holiday blues. 

Keep busy:

There are over 250 societies to choose from at uni so make the most of them. From sports to book clubs, subject related to Harry Potter there is something for everyone. If you can’t find something to pique your interest then start your own. It is scientifically proven that doing exercise releases ‘happy hormones’ or endorphins; maybe getting a gym membership isn’t for you but even walking outside and being amongst nature in the Green Heart, away from your desk or binge-watching Netflix, could help. 

Work hard, play hard:

There is no better feeling than being prepared for a lecture, seminar or lab; submerge yourself in your studies and remember the reasons why you chose your course in the first place, do some extra reading or research around a topic which you’ve recently investigated. Maybe even look for a job to distract yourself and finance your next holiday. The university offers excellent services like Worklink in order to help students searching for part-time employment alongside their degree. Once you’ve got your work done then you can enjoy yourself and have fun with your friends.