Does this picture make you sigh? Remembering your trip this summer and then you’re back to reality, school is back and you’re settling into everyday life again. Feeling a little bit down and bored? You’re not alone. Research by one of AUIP’s favorite sites, Trip Advisor, polled 1,400 Americans who had been on some sort of trip or vacation over the summer and 64% said the post holiday blues had begun even before their trip ended and 34% said they were struggling with gloomy feelings since returning home.

For 34% of those questioned it was the thought of returning to work that was the leading cause of the blues. 19% said they felt immediate tension from the first day they were back, with 43% saying they felt it within the first week and 84% stating their stress levels returned soon after returning to work.

Well Trip Advisor also gathered the number one blues buster, which is, plan another trip! 73% of participants reported feeling more upbeat once they started planning their next trip away. Other methods included viewing pictures or videos of the trip and 41% of participants said that creating a photo album helped them beat the blues.

Well there we go, feeling down? Check out the programs AUIP are offering this winter or even check out what programs we have planned for next summer!

The Fact Files: Test out a Tim Tam recipe
News Brief: AUIP staff not the only visitors to Akaroa this month!