This week, I have most definitely been suffering from the post adventure blues. A mix of being overly tired, the excitement of a big adventure coming to an end, my already non-existent routine being even more disrupted…it’s safe to say, I’ve found readjusting pretty difficult.
The Low After The Incredible High
After my Dales Way hike, I definitely felt some kind of low once it was finished, but not quite the same as this. Having finished the 5 day Highlander Lake District event last week, I’ve been feeling pretty lost. I just wanted to be back out on the trail. I missed sleeping in my tent, the freedom of hiking all day with the only aim being getting to point B, only having to boil a little water for all my meals, constantly being in great company, incredible views everywhere you look.
Of course it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but those tough times I overcame, made the highs of the trip even more amazing. I achieved so much over those few days. My fitness levels were far better than I expected, I felt completely confident in my abilities to navigate, set up my tent and sleep system, unpack and repack my gear, meet a load of new people – all things that a few years ago would have given me such anxiety.
I’d expected for my body to feel pretty worn out the few days after the event, but it didn’t. I’m not sure why this was, as I’d put it through more than I ever had before. I guess maybe it was just used to it after 5 days and was preparing for more. Either way, I knew in my head I needed to rest, but I found this extremely difficult when my body was telling me it was fine.
It’s also times like these when I get that ping of ‘if only I had someone to come home to’. Finishing such a personal challenge and coming back to a room in shared house, that’s comparable to student accomodation, isn’t really the best kind of welcome home. I am quite content being single, which is a point it’s taken me quite a while to get to, but I do still have those moments. Thankfully, my best friend is an angel and invited me to join her family for a bbq, followed by a well deserved hot tub.
The Science of the Post Adventure Blues
Since getting back, I’ve been reading up on the ‘post adventure blues’. I couldn’t find a huge amount of research, but one post I found touched on the impact of hormones. When you’re on a big, physical adventure, you’re being drip-fed endorphins, there’s adrenaline keeping you focussed and a hit of dopamine when you achieve your goal. All of that suddenly stops when you finish. Being deprived of these can have a big impact on your mood, and it can take your body a while to re-adjust back to normality.
I also found a piece of research, titled ‘Out Of the Blues‘, which summarises a small online survey in which 86% of adventurers stated they had experienced post expedition blues or depression, after a big adventure. It’s worth noting that this research was conducted with an extremely small sample size – but it’s a start to exploring it further.
If anyone knows of anyone conducting research in this area, then I’d love to hear about it! With a psychology background, I find the science behind things like this absolutely fascinating.
How I’ve Tried to Overcome It
This last week, I’ve tried my best to not do too much and just let my brain work through what it needs to work through. A few of the things that I’ve found have helped include…
- Rest: Probably the most important thing I’ve done, is allow myself time to rest. Having spoken to quite a few people about how I was feeling, nearly all of them said that I was probably physically exhausted and needed some time to recover.
- Small, local hikes: I was struggling with not getting out at all, so instead of doing anything too big and taxing, I just went for shorter walks from the door. This meant no additional stress of travelling and parking, and I was never far from home if I felt like I’d had enough. It also had the additional benefit of allowing me to explore a few places on the doorstep that I hadn’t yet had chance to explore.
- Spending time with friends and family: A paddleboarding session turned into a film night, and I’m not mad about it. A couple of local dips and breakfast by the lake. Quality time with friends and family is one of the best things for me when I’m feeling low. Meeting my new born nephew was also a pretty incredible way to spend the day.
- Reading: I’ve read more in the last week than I have in the last couple of months. Forcing myself to slow down a bit has meant more time to myself, as well as earlier, less chaotic evenings. I find I always sleep so much better when I read before settling down and it also helps me to spend less time scrolling aimlessly on my phone.
- Plan the next adventure: Trying to focus on planning what’s next, has definitely helped to improve my mood. As well as focussing on the things I’ve learnt from this one that I can take forward with me.
- Be kind to myself: I know I have been pretty harsh on myself recently, for several reasons. But taking a step back and trying my best to be kinder to myself is something I am working on. I get annoyed when I’m not constantly busy or being productive, I find it very hard to switch off, so having an enforced week of rest was probably the best thing I could have done for myself.
Have you experienced this post adventure comedown after a big event? What have you found helps?
If you’re interested in hearing more about my Highlander adventure, keep your eyes peeled for next week’s blog, where I will be talking about it in detail, including the route and my kit list.
Happy adventuring x
Lisa Outdoors 
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