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How to Beat the Post-Hawaii Blues: 3 Simple Steps to Keep the Aloha Alive

• Bryan Murphy—Certified Hawaii Travel Expert | Hawaii Travel Tips & Vacation Planning • Episode 179

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👉Download your FREE "How to Beat Post-Hawaii Blues" guide!

Did you know that 57% of travelers experience post-vacation blues, and Hawaii trips can hit especially hard?

You're not alone! This common phenomenon affects millions of travelers and can turn your post-trip glow into genuine sadness.

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If you've ever wondered how to maintain that aloha spirit long after you've left the islands, this episode is for you. Learn proven strategies to soften that landing and keep Hawaii alive in your daily routine.

👉In this episode, you will:

  • Discover how to prepare before leaving Hawaii to create a smoother transition home.
  • Learn practical daily habits that keep the aloha spirit alive (including specific music, food, and decor recommendations).
  • Get a clear action plan for maintaining excitement by planning your next Hawaiian adventure.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to transform your post-Hawaii experience from crushing blues into lasting aloha that enriches your daily life.

🤙Resources mentioned:

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🎧Related episodes:

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đź’»Related blog posts:

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🤓Chapters:

  • (0:50) Understanding Post Vacation Blues
  • (2:16) Step 1: Prepare Before You Leave
  • (4:40) Step 2: Keep the Aloha Spirit Alive Daily
  • (7:05) Incorporating Hawaii into Your Daily Life
  • (9:50) Exploring Local Adventures
  • (11:36) Step 3: Look Ahead with Excitement
  • (12:10) Final Thoughts and Resources

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📲Connect

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This Hawaii podcast is for travelers looking to plan a trip to Hawaii. Discover travel tips, itineraries, and traveling tips & hacks with guides to help you explore Hawaii. Whether you’re planning a Hawaii vacation to the islands, dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway, or visiting Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Big Island we’ll help you travel with aloha.

Edge of the Ocean, Stick Figure (w/ permission)
Ukulele and Chill, Coby G (w/ permission)
Talk Story, Hawaiian Style Band (w/ permission)

179_How to Beat the Post-Hawaii Blues- 3 Simple Steps to Keep the Aloha Alive


[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: In this episode, you'll discover three simple steps to beat the Post Hawaii Blues. We'll talk about ways to prepare before you leave on your trip, how to keep the aloha spirit alive in your daily routine when you get home, and how to look ahead with excitement by planning your next trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:20] Bryan Murphy: Aloha and welcome to Hawaii's Best. The podcast helping Travelers Plan an unforgettable Hawaii vacation with insider tips in featuring local voices. I'm Brian Murphy, a husband dad of three, and certified Hawaii destination expert. Each week I share local insights, travel tips, and up-to-date news, sometimes with guests across Hawaii and sometimes solo.

[00:00:42] Bryan Murphy: All to help you. Plan your next trip to Hawaii

[00:00:48] Bryan Murphy: Loha and welcome back to Hawaii's Best.

[00:00:50] Bryan Murphy: A lot of us have been there. Get back from a trip and post Hawaii blues sets in. It's a real thing. Post vacation, depression effects. Surprisingly, 57% of travelers according to the Wikipedia page about post vacation blues. And Hawaii trips can be especially hard. The lifestyle change can be dramatic.

[00:01:12] Bryan Murphy: You can go from island time to rush hour traffic in just 12 minutes. I've definitely have been there land and LAX when we used to fly out of LAX and I do anything I can to not fly out of LAX. But when you get back to LEX and you get on the 1 0 5 and then traffic is going, you know, 80 at least it's a rude awakening that you're back to.

[00:01:35] Bryan Murphy: Reality. So I've been there, experienced it myself. The adjustment can definitely be brutal. So if you haven't been to Hawaii yet, maybe this is a fair warning, just to know how to prepare and plan for your post potential Hawaii Blues. And for those of you who have been Hawaii. I'm sure you have experienced some of this to an extent.

[00:01:55] Bryan Murphy: Today we're covering some proven strategies that have helped me personally beat that crash of getting back into reality. And these aren't just like feel good tips, some of them are, but these are all practical methods that actually work that can help you bring aloha with you wherever you are. So your Hawaii experience doesn't have to end as you deplane.

[00:02:16] Bryan Murphy: All right.

[00:02:16] Bryan Murphy: Step number one is prepare before you leave. This is something that took us quite a while to actually learn and to implement before you leave. Oh, and I just wanna back up real quick. I've included first link in the show notes below. I've included a free guide on how to beat Post Hawaii blue.

[00:02:35] Bryan Murphy: So just go to the first link in the show notes to download that. Today, and you'll have that for your next time you get back home from Hawaii. One of the first tips is clean your house before your trip. You know, fresh sheets tidy up the space. Now I'm talking about, you know, walking into your home and feeling instant relief instead of stress.

[00:02:55] Bryan Murphy: Kind of that same feeling as maybe you stayed in a hotel or wherever you stayed, maybe a condo in Hawaii and you walk in and it's clean. It just feels like you can just unwind. Having that same feeling when you come back home instead of reminders of everything that that has been neglected. You know, just dirty dishes in the sink and laundry piled up.

[00:03:17] Bryan Murphy: If you can get those done before you leave, it will definitely help unburden some of that stress as you get back home. Maybe have some easy meals ready, frozen dinners or. Or maybe a little budget for DoorDash, something you can grab without thinking too much. You'll be exhausted after the flight. Your body clock is probably completely off in grocery shopping at 9:00 PM while jet lag is isn't, definitely is not recommended.

[00:03:44] Bryan Murphy: One thing a lot of people miss is that they pack. Every single day in Hawaii from sunrise to sunset, you know, you're snorkeling at six, you're hiking by nine beach time at noon, dinner reservations at seven, maybe try to squeeze in a luau somewhere in there, and you're scheduling yourself into exhaustion.

[00:04:02] Bryan Murphy: So build in some downtime. Leave time to breathe. Spend a morning just sitting on the beach doing nothing. Take an afternoon nap. Let yourself move at island pace. And when you over schedule yourself, you return drained instead of refresh. And probably one of the main reasons you wanted to take a trip to Hawaii is to feel refreshed.

[00:04:22] Bryan Murphy: So give yourself that and give your family that. Time to actually recharge and refresh. So when you're overscheduled, that transition home can feel like hitting a wall at full speed. You just wanna land into comfort instead of just chaos. And that's just one step that can help beat the post Hawaii blues.

[00:04:40] Bryan Murphy: Step number two is keep the aloha spirit alive daily. Now, your mindset matters a lot here and a lot of people fail. I know I have. In trying to get back into routine. And most travelers think of their trip as like a closed chapter. The second that they board the plane home or get off the plane, it's over.

[00:04:59] Bryan Murphy: It's done. You're back to reality. And really that's a misstep. You know, maybe journal your trip highlights while you're still there, or maybe on the plane, you know, write down where you stayed at those hidden spots that you found, the people that you've met. The meal that sunset that just made it incredible.

[00:05:16] Bryan Murphy: That time with the family. You know, do that, write it down, jot it down, or maybe just go through your camera roll, maybe on the plane or when you get home, that really helps shift your brain and it's, it's no longer, you know, the trip is over. It becomes, the trip is now a part of you. It's a part of me. It's, you're not losing Hawaii, you're carrying it forward.

[00:05:33] Bryan Murphy: It's a memory that you can take. Forever in your life. You could take that forever, wherever you go. Another tip is, as much as you can slow your pace at home, at least those next few days as you get back home, you know, this is critical. Think about the routines that you had while you were on island. Maybe you were just sipping coffee instead of just chugging it.

[00:05:51] Bryan Murphy: As you know, part of your routine. Take time to savor. Take long walks without your phone. Those things that you felt in Hawaii recharged you. You know, those are some things that he can carry back home with you as well. And obviously you're not gonna be able to create Hawaii perfectly, and that's really impossible.

[00:06:08] Bryan Murphy: You're carrying that slower rhythm into your daily routine. You know, five minutes of potential slowness can really change your entire morning. Another little tip is creating a countdown to your next trip, even if it's, you know, a year away or two years away, or having that date circled, or as a countdown.

[00:06:27] Bryan Murphy: Sometimes I have that on my phone, like a countdown to an important date. And I can see it on my lock screen. Just helps create excitement. And if you can just book the trip as soon as you can. Having those confirmation emails in your inbox flips your mindset from it's over to, I get to go back. But if you can't book right away, totally understand.

[00:06:46] Bryan Murphy: Most people aren't able to book right away, but maybe start planning. Have fun browsing through flights, maybe looking at hotel options, new places you wanna try. New experiences and you want to create, even just thinking about these possibilities, create some of that spark of anticipation you felt before your last trip and maybe stay connected through this podcast.

[00:07:05] Bryan Murphy: We, you know, I have over 170 episodes of Travel Tips, island Guides, local business conversations. If you're missing Hawaii, throw on an old episode while cooking, community, walking wherever you're doing, and it's a simple way to keep aloha in your daily routine. And really, that's why I started this podcast and Hawaii's best the blog and the social media and the whole thing was.

[00:07:28] Bryan Murphy: I was missing Hawaii and I wanted to bring Hawaii back home with me as much as I can. And it's turned into this really cool platform and opportunity to have conversations with amazing people in Hawaii. So go back, listen to some of those episodes and just hit follow on Apple or Spotify and you'll stay up to date as I release future episodes as well.

[00:07:49] Bryan Murphy: And through that, listening to some of those old episodes, you'll get to hear local businesses. And I hope that will inspire you to support local while you're at home. There's so many ways that you can do that. You know, be ordering local. Maybe it's the We order from Hawaiian Bath and Body and we had 'em on the podcast actually, and you know, we love their soaps.

[00:08:07] Bryan Murphy: And you get that smell from the islands and it just kinda. Really brings Hawaii back home. Another big way that has helped me is, is just music is streaming Hawaiian radio stations and you know, you do that right on iHeart Radio. There are many stations streaming right there as I'm pulling up on my app right now.

[00:08:24] Bryan Murphy: Some of them I'm subscribed to are Oh. So you can hear it playing the soon that open the app. So, um, I'm subscribed to Hawaii Noko O, which is 99.1. Wine style band right there. Rhythm of the ocean. Let's give you my stations. I have right here, uh, which is, um, 1 0 5 0.1 Island, 98.5. You get the idea. It's a great way to just stay connected with what's going on in Hawaii.

[00:08:53] Bryan Murphy: I also created a Spotify playlist of some of my favorite. Slot key and local artists from Israel, kale to, you know, island reggae and anything in between. It's a great playlist. I often play it just to get those Hawaii vibes. Another tip is maybe change your physical space. Maybe hang that lei that you got from your trip.

[00:09:15] Bryan Murphy: I have a lepo that one of my daughters had, and I have that hanging in my office. Add art pieces around the house that just kinda remind you of Hawaii local online stores like NoHo Homes. Who've actually we've had on the podcast as well, and Soha living, those are a couple spots that you can go to online and maybe get an item or two that reminds you of Hawaii.

[00:09:36] Bryan Murphy: It's a nice way to have something in your physical space that reminds you of your trip. You're just wanting to create visual reminders that connect you back to your time in Hawaii, you know? So every time you look at that photo or you look at that art piece, you're just reminded of your trip.

[00:09:50] Bryan Murphy: Another tip is just find aloha where you live.

[00:09:52] Bryan Murphy: You don't need to be on the islands to feel connected. You know, maybe play tourist in your own town. Try a restaurant that you've never been to. Check out a local trail. Visit landmarks that people travel to your area to see, you know, approach your hometown with that same curiosity that you had in Hawaii, just a couple miles from where we live.

[00:10:12] Bryan Murphy: This is how I got connected with North Shore Plate Lunch and that family there we actually had on the podcast as well. They have amazing plate lunch, poke, you know, the whole thing. And they're right here in Southern California and they're legit. I can't recommend them enough. This just happened to be just kind of playing tour in my own town and being curious about who's actually right around in the same community I'm in.

[00:10:35] Bryan Murphy: You know, most of us ignore our backyard and we save exploration for. Vacation. But that mindset keeps you kind of trapped in this routine. And when you start exploring locally, you realize adventure doesn't require a plane ticket. It could be found right within 20 miles from your house. And another tip, learn Hawaiian history and traditions.

[00:10:53] Bryan Murphy: So you thinking about your next trip, just maybe learn more about Hawaii and it's. History, read books about the island's wash documentaries. Continue to listen to this podcast, but I also would recommend listening to the podcast Keep It Aloha by Kama Diaz. He was actually a guest on my podcast and he has a show that talks about all the local things, kind of like a locals only Joe Rogan style podcast.

[00:11:17] Bryan Murphy: Another way to stay connected is join our Hawaii's best Facebook group. You know, connect with people who love Hawaii just as much as you, you know, share tips, stories, resources. It's good to know that you're not the only one missing the islands. Sometimes you need people who understand exactly what you're going through with this post Hawaii Blues.

[00:11:36] Bryan Murphy: And step number three, look ahead with excitement. The fastest cure for. Post Hawaii Blues is simple. Plan your next return. Make a list of some of those places that you want to try next time. But I'll tell you honestly, the tips that help me the most are music and having some decor around me, and also clothing.

[00:11:54] Bryan Murphy: There's a couple clothing brands. In Hawaii that I like to support. Having the clothing pieces just kind of helps remind me of Hawaii, and I also love hats. So I have a lot of Hawaii hats, you know, from Aloha Revolution to High Life to University of Hawaii.

[00:12:10] Bryan Murphy: And then honestly, doing this podcast helps me personally just stay connected to Hawaii and being able to produce content like this for you, as a lot of us are doing our best to overcome post Hawaii blues.

[00:12:21] Bryan Murphy: But I actually just wanna be honest with you. I know kind of joking about post Hawaii blues, but if you are struggling honestly with depression, definitely seek out and get help. Depression is something that I've dealt with personally and during a season of really strong depression, anxiety, I saw counsel and saw counselor therapy and the whole thing, and it was super helpful in processing those emotions.

[00:12:44] Bryan Murphy: And it wasn't just about Hawaii, but if you're already dealing with depression. Then you get back from Hawaii, something like this, I just would hate for it to add to preexisting depression. So honestly, get help. I'm gonna leave a link, it's not an affiliate link. I'm gonna leave a link of an online therapy that has helped me called Better Help, and I'll leave that in the show notes below.

[00:13:06] Bryan Murphy: Just wanted to kinda like. All that aside, just to be real. And if you are dealing with that, you're definitely not alone. I hope you found this episode helpful and I didn't want to get all down at the end, but I also wanted to be real and recognize that because you're not alone and if this episode has been helpful for you, go ahead and hit follow it for Future episodes.

[00:13:28] Bryan Murphy: Like I mentioned, there's a few links below. That first link is gonna be your free PDF for everything that we talked about today, so you can have for future planning and also will list my Spotify playlist within that PD. And also the stations I listen to on iHeartRadio. I'll list that all in the PDF.

[00:13:44] Bryan Murphy: Alright, and until next time, my friend as always live with Aloha

[00:13:53] Bryan Murphy: Mahala for listening to this episode of Hawaii's Best. To stay up to date on future episodes, hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii's Best is a production of Shore Break media group with editing by easy podcast solutions and music courtesy of our friends stick figure.


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