6 Ways To Combat Your Post-Music Festival Blues After A Long Weekend
With the back-to-back Coachella weekends now behind us, festival season has officially begun.
And, to accompany this long-awaited time of year, we have the side effects of post-festival comedown.
Dancing all weekend in a musical paradise — filled with no rules, like-minded individuals, amazing music and, perhaps, a few recreational drugs -- is the ultimate escape for 20-somethings.
Returning back to reality — school, work or the life of the unemployed — is an unwelcomed slap in the face.
If you want to avoid the worry and comedown for your next festival this summer, then here are a few tips to help guide you through the emotional instability and mental paralysis that is the post-festival blues:
1. Catch those Z's
Like any hangover, the best way to get through the post-festival blues is to sleep it off.
Although there is likely little time to snooze between the festival ending and real-world responsibilities beginning, be sure to block off your calendar for the subsequent days, allowing yourself eight to nine hours a day of quality shut-eye.
This will give your body and mind the necessary time to recuperate.
You should also try to get your rest the week leading up to the big weekend, even if your excitement makes it difficult to sleep.
2. Pop those pills
...As in vitamins. Running on only pills of a different nature, along with booze and junk food, for three days straight will quickly run you down.
Make sure you counter this by nourishing yourself with essential vitamins, minerals and supplements. Fish oil is rich in in omega-3 fatty acids, which contributes to optimal brain chemistry.
B vitamins (B6 and B3) with 5-HTP help to naturally increase the levels of serotonin, which enhances your mood and eases those blues.
A multi-vitamin a day will help keep your daily intake of proper nourishment on track. Check in with your doctor first to understand which vitamins will incorporate best with your diet.
3. Sweat it out
Lace up your sneakers and hit the gym. Working out allows you to release those "feel good" brain chemicals like endorphins to enhance your mood.
Increasing your body temperature may also have a calming effect while you sweat out toxins. Although your energy levels may be low, give yourself an extra push to get moving. Plus, it's never too early to whip yourself back into festival shape.
4. Make a playlist
Revisit the euphoric moments of festival-ing by pulling together a playlist of all your favorites. Relive each of the best sets from the weekend and share them with your concert buddies.
Festivals are great opportunities to discover new artists, so take this opportunity to dig into some older tracks from your new favorites and relive the high of the weekend.
Provide a personalized session of music therapy for yourself, and keep those earbuds in to give you a boost from your desk to the gym.
5. H2-0verdose
Start prepping your post-fest hangover by staying hydrated all weekend long. Assist your body in flushing out all of the weekend's toxins by frequenting the water stations around the venue.
Investing in a Camelbak or reusable water bottle will help keep you hydrated while running around the grounds. Plus, something as simple as water is proven to boost energy levels.
Dehydration can slow down various bodily systems, which will make you feel sluggish and tired.
6. Plan your next adventure
If the only way to move on from a heartbreak is to love again, then set your sights on your next festival.
Being able to get excited about your next big event will help pull you out of your post-festival darkness.
The popularity of most of these festivals forces you to plan ahead quite a bit, so try to start rallying next year's crew by getting the deposit for your ultimate festival house or scoring early bird tickets.
Keeping a positive attitude will help you out of most slumps in life. Let the excitement for what's next fuel the fire to push you out of those blues.
Although a variety of factors can contribute to a few dreary days following a euphoric weekend, keep in mind these are the results of something amazing! You had a great time, and now you have a wonderful memory.
Smile as you reminisce on the good times and start prepping yourself for your next trip to the festival grounds.
