Traveling for an extended period of time, say more than 3 months, will be very tiring and you might feel close to burning out at times. That’s normal. You are just not used to chasing one mind blowing adventure after another, constantly making new friends and eating bizarre foods. On top of that your mind has to digest so many new impressions, cultures and customs that it is simply overwhelmed. Your system is crashing fast and hard! So what to do now?
If you have time, the best thing you can do to overcome this feeling of being burned out is finding a quiet place to slow down for a few days. Give your mind the time it needs to catch up with all the new things flying at light speed around you. Make the slowing down phase even better by following one of your passions. Maybe that’s sports, outdoors, arts, or food. Really anything goes and long as you do exactly what you love.
For me that has always been being in the ocean and surfing. So the last time I was burned out from two emergency visits to the hospital and yet another sleepless night in a bed-bug hostel I headed straight for the nearest surf spot and surfed for a week without doing anything else. It was awesome and I was completely recharged.
If you don’t have time to slow down and follow your passion, the next best thing is to remind yourself of the amazing sensation you will feel on your next adventure, when you stand in front of that amazing monument or when you made another life-long dream become reality. It will only give you a small boost compared to doing what you love…but hey, sometimes that’s all you need to make it out of the bus terminal and to the next adventure.
To give you a bit of a perspective, here’s a recount of the last time I felt pretty burned out with no time to slow down…
Here’s how I dealt with my travelers burn-out syndrome just a few months ago when arriving in the middle of the night in Jordan…
It is 3AM in the international airport in Amman, Jordan. My eyes are tired and my legs shaky. I knew from the moment I booked the flight online that arriving at the ungodly hour of 2:30AM will be a rough one.
Sitting on my bench in the middle of baggage claim this reality seems to sink in. I’m tired and jealous of the two Spanish climbers next to me who don’t seem to be bothered by the lack of sleep at all.
Memories of endless night
s partying in Spain flash through my mind – of course the spaniards don’t care after life long sleep deprivation training. For them it’s just like another night out partying. For me it’s like staying awake for the new years firecrackers when you are 5 years old – impossible!
I want to close my eyes, but sleep is not mine yet. I’m on backpack watch patrol. If I am lucky that guy behind the Baggage Service desk will had enough of his middle eastern tunes blaring loud from an old speaker. I doubt that though.
The first bus comes at 7AM, or should I rather take a taxi. Will I blow my $25 a day budget right from the start? Decision time. My fuzzy mind is no help at all. A police man comes over and starts asking the usual questions: “What are you doing here? Where are you coming from?” He’s satisfied with my tired answer and starts walking away. Then he stops in his tracks, turns around and stares me down: “You cannot stay in here. Go outside!”
Great, there goes my sleep! As I sit outside, waiting for the sun to rise I dream of a cozy and warm room, maybe even with a hot shower and no bed bugs. In a rare moment of clarity, I realize that this will probably just stay a dream and I will most likely sleep in another dirty dorm room.
Dawn starts breaking, the sun sends it’s first rays my way and my spirits rise. I remind myself, that all this hustle will be long forgotten once I spot the incredible sight of Petra, ride my own camel over a sand dune and sleep underneath the Milkyway in the desert.
I smile and whisper to myself…
Life on the road you are wonderful and I love every moment of you!
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