6 Quick Remedies for Travel Fatigue

It happens to even the heartiest of travelers: after days of enthusiastic sightseeing and cultural absorption you unexpectedly hit the wall. Your feet start to throb and all the fabulous attractions suddenly seem a little less interesting. Not only are you physically tired, you are mentally worn out as well. In short, you've overdone it with the travel activities and now you are totally burnt out.

If you're traveling long term then you can easily take a few days off to recharge your batteries. If you're on a shorter trip however, you may not want to take a long break and miss out on what is left of your vacation. Here are a few quick fixes to cure travel fatigue and get your enthusiasm back as quickly as possible.
 

1. Take a Nap

So simple, yet it cures so many problems. The biggest cause of travel fatigue is overextending yourself physically and mentally. Naturally this means that the cure is to slow down. Head back to your hotel and rest your brain, even for just an hour, and you may find yourself immensely rejuvenated.

2. Sit at a Cafe

If you can't bear to completely tear yourself from the action, take your rest time at a local cafe. Pull up a chair, order a coffee or pastry and enjoy the cultural experience of people watching in a different country. You can even bring a notebook and write about your impressions to help you remember the trip once you are back home.

3. Get a Massage

This isn't always the cheapest option but it can be startlingly effective. Walking for hours on end, climbing lots of stairs and carrying a heavy camera can all result in serious muscle strain and fatigue. An hour-long massage, or even just a foot massage, is a great way to relax from the physical pressures of sightseeing.

4. Relax Your Itinerary

Oftentimes eager travelers can turn what is supposed to be a vacation into a slog with a long list of things to see and do. When you're too tired all of this sight-seeing can be more of a chore than a treat, so remind yourself that it is okay not to see everything. If you're completely exhausted by early afternoon that means that you are stuffing your itinerary with too much stuff. Pick what's most important to you and spend the rest of your time exploring the city in less strenuous ways.

5. Do Something Completely Different

Maybe your fatigue is just telling you that you need a change in direction. There is a limit to how many museums most humans can visit in a short amount of time. If your brain starts throbbing from touring too many beautiful cathedrals, spend some time exploring the city park, or just wander aimlessly through a beautiful part of the city.

6. Take the Day Off

When all else fails, there is no shame in temporarily throwing in the towel. Allow yourself a day off and hang out by the pool, read a book or write some postcards. With any luck you'll wake up the next day energized and ready to see and do more. Give yourself time to recover, or else you are going to return from your vacation needing another one.

How do you deal with travel fatigue?

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