What was the point of all that pleasure, you might ask, when it seems life is doubly hard to face once you are headed back home after a spectacular trip abroad?

The dreaded post-vacation blues’ symptoms might include an overall lack of desire to do anything, and in some severe cases, anxiety attacks on your way to work that very first day after getting back.

While there is no scientific proof that post-travel depression is a legitimate mental issue, it's a feeling many travelers have felt at some point, and could be related to letting go of stress.

Why didn’t all those things bother us so painfully before we left the city or the country?

It’s called “contrast effect,” said Dr. Gerhard Strauss-Blasche from the University of Vienna’s Department of Physiology. “Vacationers cease to be used to stress and thus react more strongly when confronted (with it) again.”

It seems that when we are busy, with schedules filled out up to our ears, we grow thicker skin, we numb ourselves, we are on an autopilot. We reason too much. We justify discomfort. We do a lot of things we “should” do, just to not feel guilty.

In some cases, vacation offers the perspective you need to make a change. Indeed, for some people, post-vacation blues can result in a feeling that you no longer want to keep doing what you're doing and all you can think about is making an enormous change to your life. When coming back home, the routine stares at you square in the eye, generating some internal conflict.

Post-travel hangovers can leave you exhausted, unmotivated, or blue (if not all three). But with a few simple tips and tricks, you can beat the inertia, dive right back into a productive routine, and even infuse your home life with the excitement and inspiration you felt while you were away. Read on for 7  ways to prevent that next vacation hangover.

7 Ways to Beat the Post-Vacation Blues

Probably the most painful is to get back to work, especially if you don’t like your job. If you have the possibility, give yourself a margin between your return from vacation and return to work. So during those few days you can catch up with what’s going on within you and re-evaluate which parts of your life need adjustment while your perspective is still fresh. You can also use the next weekend after vacations for this.

Unpack your bags as soon as possible and take time to launder and fold your clean clothes. Each day that you let your unpacked suitcase take up space in the corner of your bedroom is another day that you're not fully committing yourself to the present time and place. Then head to the grocery store and stock up on your regular essentials. It may seem like a small thing, but having your go-to snacks and food items right where you're used to seeing them will go a long way toward making your house seem like home again.

When you get back from your vacation, you will invariably have fallen behind and have a lot of work to catch up on. There will be a ton of voice mails, emails and tasks that need your attention. It can be really tempting to work long hours to catch up after your vacation. DON’T!!! Work regular hours and don’t expect to have a clear desk on your first day back – allow yourself to be behind and to catch up steadily.

The sooner you download, edit, and share your travel photos the richer and more vivid the details of your trip. Block out a few hours and organize your pics. Instead of mourning the end of those lovely views, relive your vacation by making a photo album that serves as a reminder of why you love to travel.

Lack of sleep affects so many aspects of our lives. By waking up on the right side of the bed, you'll be ready to ease back in to your healthy habits and alleviate lingering jet lag effects.

Traveling opens our eyes to new experiences, customs, food, dress and decor. Did you try a new dish that you absolutely loved? Recreate it for a weekday meal. Or study the language of a place you plan to revisit. Bringing your travels home allows you to marry your vacation life with your regular one.

Seth Godin wisely said, "Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life that you don't need to escape from." Vacations are wonderful, but sometimes we can put them on such a high pedestal our so-called "normal" lives pale in comparison. There are opportunities in our everyday life that can lend themselves to mini vacations: a sunset stroll on the beach, coffee in bed on a lazy Sunday morning, a nap in a hammock, check a new restaurant downtown. With little escapes you don't have to wait for a big one.