How to Beat the Blues when You're Stuck at Home During Pandemic
If you know me or if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love traveling. But despite how it might look on social media, I’m not a full-time traveler or a digital nomad hopping from one country to another and somehow making a living along the way. I don’t live permanently out of a suitcase, and I don’t have the luxury of being “on the road” all the time.
Between trips, I go home. I have commitments, responsibilities, and all the unglamorous stuff that needs tending to.
And when I can’t travel, the wanderlust hits hard. Over the years, I’ve had to figure out ways to deal with that restless, itchy feeling if I can’t hop on a plane immediately. And if you’re in the same boat, here are a few things you can try too.
If you can’t physically be somewhere, the next best thing is to experience it through stories. Pick up a travel memoir, a guidebook, or a historical novel set in your dream destination.
Documentaries and movies can also transport you, from walking the streets of Paris to exploring the mountains of Patagonia in a good documentary.
Bonus points if you combine both: read a book about a place, then watch a film set there. Suddenly, your living room becomes your own little travel bubble.
2. Cook (or eat) your way around the world
Food is one of the easiest ways to feel like you’ve traveled. Pick a cuisine you’ve never tried cooking before, find a supermarket that carries the right ingredients (or order them online) and go for it. The first attempt might be a disaster, but hey, burnt Pad Thai counts as travel experience too.
If cooking isn’t your thing, hunt down authentic restaurants or specialty stores in your area. Even a single bite of a well-made pasty or a bowl of ramen can transport you halfway across the globe.
3. Explore locally
You don’t need a plane to discover something new. Take a day trip to a nearby town, hike a new trail, or even just walk a different route in your own city.
Pretend you’re a tourist. Take photos, visit local landmarks, and maybe even treat yourself to a little guidebook-style research.
Sometimes the best travel experiences happen right in your backyard.
4. Stay connected to the travel community
When you can’t travel, it’s easy to feel like the world is moving on without you. One thing that helps is staying connected to other travelers.
Join travel groups, message friends you met on the road, comment on other people’s trips, or swap stories online. And if you’re up for it, flip the script and host travelers who are passing through your city or show them around.
Even just hearing someone else’s travel mishaps or plans can scratch that itch and remind you that this phase is temporary. You’re still part of the same wandering tribe.
5. Document your travels
If you’ve traveled previously, you might have accumulated a number of travel photos. Do something with them. Make a photo collage on your wall. Edit and upload them to social media, or create a travel scrapbook.
And if photos aren’t your thing, try writing instead. Journal your trips. Maybe even get something published. Learn to edit videos. Start a blog — whatever works for you.
Even if you never plan to share any of it with anyone, those memories will come in handy on the days you need to look back and remind yourself that you really did live all that.
6. Plan your future trips
When I come home from an overseas trip, I find that the best way to keep myself from spiraling into post-holiday blues is planning my next escapade.
Even if you can’t go now, planning your next trip can scratch that travel itch. Map out an itinerary, research the best local foods, learn a few words in the language, or create a mood board of the places you want to visit.
The planning itself is part of the joy, and when the time comes, you’ll be so ready you’ll almost feel like you’ve already been there.
7. Learn something new about the world
Travel isn’t just about places, but also about culture, language, and history, all of which you can learn from home. Take an online course, watch a cultural webinar, learn a few phrases in a foreign language, or dive into a topic about a country you’ve always wanted to visit.
Not only does it keep your brain busy, it makes you feel connected to the world even if you’re sitting on your couch in pajamas.
8. Bring travel into your everyday life
It’s amazing how a few small touches can transport your mind somewhere far away, without the airport security lines. Here are a few small ways to make your daily life feel a little more like an adventure:
Virtual museum tours: The Louvre, the British Museum, and the Vatican all have online tours. Perfect for wandering without leaving your couch.
Travel playlists: Spotify has playlists by country. Suddenly, your kitchen can be a Parisian café or a Brazilian beach.
Language mini-challenges: Learn five words in a new language each week. It’s fun and makes planning a future trip easier.
Cultural nights: Pick a country, cook its cuisine, watch a movie or documentary set there, and dress the part if you’re feeling dramatic. Instant travel vibe.
9. Practice Self-Care
Sometimes, the wanderlust blues aren’t just boredom. They could be stress, fatigue, or just feeling stuck.
Take time to do things that make you feel good: meditate, take a long bath, read a favorite book, go for a walk, or just nap guilt-free.
Treat yourself like you would if you were traveling somewhere relaxing, because your mental well-being deserves a “staycation” too.
Final thoughts
The wanderlust blues are real, but they’re also an opportunity to get creative about how you experience the world.
Travel isn’t just a plane ticket; it’s a mindset. Even when you can’t leave home, you can still taste new flavors, learn new things, and feel that spark of adventure.
So the next time you’re itching for a trip, don’t panic. You don’t always need a passport. Sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination (and maybe some burnt Pad Thai).
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