You know the feeling well. You get back from a week in a field – a little mud-stained, a little hungry for some fresh vegetables, a little dehydrated, and more than a little ready for your bed, a comfort TV show, and some cold, filtered water in your emotional support water battle (washed clean of its grass stains, of course).
The trouble? You’ve got mild tinnitus from the live music, your phone is dead and your charger is tangled somewhere at the bottom of a rucksack, your fridge is empty save for the ketchup and some questionable milk, and your bed is strewn with rejected clothing and all the snacks, makeup, and accessories that didn’t fit in your bag when you were packing.
Our past selves rarely think ahead to how we’ll feel after the fact, but learning to do so is a great way to ensure that resetting and getting acclimated to ‘real life’ again is easier than it has been in the past.
Get the washing on straight away
You know exactly what happens to a slightly damp, overly-stuffed bag that’s left by the front door for a week before we finally feel ready to get a wash on. We all do, and it’s not good.
Not only is it less than ideal for your clothes, but it’s also a great way to make yourself feel like you’re stuck in that post-festival lull for longer. If you can get in the door, pull everything out, and get the washing machine going all within fifteen minutes, then you’re on the right track.
Get your sleep schedule back as quickly as possible
Most of us love a post-festival, midday nap, but it’s not the best idea if you want to get back to sleeping at the proper times. After a week of late nights, loud music, light sleep, nightly interruptions and early sunrises, you need to find a way to reinstate those 7 vital hours as quickly as possible.
Ditch the caffeine after 3pm, even if it’s just a cup of builder’s tea. Swap that for some camomile, mint, or lavender tea instead. Try not to catch up on your doom scrolling because – guess what? You never will. Put your phone aside from around 8pm onwards – earlier if you can – and don’t get it back out when you’re in bed, ready to fall asleep.
Some people buy HHC online for this, although the research hasn’t caught up with the anecdotal claims yet.
Find what works, and stick with it until normal life feels normal again.
Eat good food
Festivals aren’t the best for digestion. Not only does poor sleep, dehydration and too much sun exposure all wreak havoc by themselves, but eating barely-reconstituted instant porridge and whatever the street food stalls are selling that day really isn’t the ideal scenario for any tummy.
It’s not a case of repenting or ‘making up for’ a few days of eating differently, so don’t succumb to that mindset. Instead, it’s just about renourishing your body so you can tackle the upcoming weak feeling strong, energised, and comfortable.
Fresh vegetables, some healthy fats, and some lean proteins are ideal. Don’t overthink it!
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