You buy the tickets months, if not up to a year in advance, gather your camping equipment, frantically discuss line ups with friends, plan fancy dress options, relive memories from the last festival and wonder what new experiences and memories await you.
The build up to a festival is not too dissimilar to the build up to a wedding or a milestone birthday. All the planning and excitement as the festival date moves ever closer. And then, quick as you know it, the long weekend escapism is over, and you are packing your tent and trudging back to the car, ready to be slammed back into ‘normal life’ again whether you like it or not.
A long festival weekend can be tough on your mind and body but there are things which can get you back on track once you get home.
Put on a wash when you get home
First things first. Before you do anything, empty your bags and stick all your clothes into the washing machine. It doesn’t matter how tired you are, stick on a washing the minute you get inside the door. Your future self will thank you for it. There’s nothing worse than emptying your bags a few days later to find smelly mud-crusted clothes.
Take a long shower or bath
After a weekend of camping, it’s hard to beat a bubble bath or a hot shower. There’s nothing like a steaming hot shower to help lift the hangover, and blow away all the cobwebs from your head, and make you feel a little less zombie and a little more human.
Get some sleep
You’ve spent all weekend dancing, drinking, and having fun. Sleep was the last thing on your mind – but now you’re exhausted and in need of some rest and relaxation. Dive into bed and catch some much-needed Zzzzs. You’ll feel so much better after a good night’s sleep and feel able to tackle the world again.
Drink lots of water
No, not alcohol. Water. Lots of it. Water is your friend following a heavy weekend of drinking. Your body will be extremely dehydrated and the best way to help your body detox after a heavy session is to drink lots of water.
Spend some time relaxing
Spend all day in bed recovering from your hectic festival experience. Have a duvet day with a couple of DVDs or Netflix if you have it.
Eat well
You probably have spent the whole weekend eating junk-food and drinking alcohol (or at least not getting your daily intake of water!). It’s important that you cancel this all out over the next few days by eating lots of fruit and veg. Your body will prob be craving junk food but try and balance out these cravings with some balanced meals which will get you back on track and feeling good in no time. A homemade smoothie is perfect for restoring all those lost vitamins.
Focus on your mental health
It’s natural to feel down after the exhilaration of being at a festival. If you are feeling down, it’s even more important that you eat good food, and are around people who make you feel good. Listen to your favourite playlist and watch a comedy or something that will make you laugh. Spend time with friends and try to avoid being alone for the next few days.
Exercise
The last thing you probably feel like doing is going for a run. But some gentle exercise such as a walk may be just the thing to get those endorphins going. Also, there’s nothing like some exercise to help you sweat away your hangover.
Stay away from caffeine
You might think a coffee or can of coke is the best way to perk yourself up after a heavy weekend drinking. But caffeine can dehydrate you even more which means prolonging that hangover from hell. Stay away. Have some water instead.
Be gentle
It’s important that you go easy in the days following a hectic weekend. Do something nice for yourself over the next few days and appreciate the fact that it is perfectly normal to feel down and icky in the days following a big weekend.
If you do feel like you are exceptionally down- make sure you speak to someone you can trust such as a friend. Remember there is always help available through our Live Chat service or for immediate support, you can contact the Samaritans for free on 116 123. Their lines are open 24/7.
