Originally Created For: Unorthodox Travel
Author: Mariam Amini
Original Article Link: A spa day in Tirana to ease the travel burnout – Unorthodox Travel
Today I’d like to talk about travel burnout. Because it’s a very real thing, and because it doesn’t get discussed enough.
Often, there is a certain glamorisation that comes with the thought of full-time travel. And while it is a privilege of a position to be in, especially now, it definitely isn’t all smooth sailing.
Life on the road comes with the same ups and downs of life in a fixed and solid base. The only difference, from my experience anyway, is the intensity of each.
When you’re abroad and constantly moving, you feel things more deeply, since you end up living with a comfort zone that’s always changing and never the same for long.
After nearly 8 months on the road, my partner and I were both feeling it. The physical and mental exhaustion of trying to keep up with it all.
From wanting to see everything, to staying on top of work, to maintaining a good workout routine – it was a juggling act between cafe work sessions and sightseeing towards the end.
By the time we reached Tirana, we knew we needed to take it slow for a few days. And luckily, we had the time for it.
We spent 9 nights in the Albanian capital, and one very memorable afternoon at the centrally located Bamboo Spa Hammam.
Equipped with an array of treatments that made it hard to settle for just one, this serene oasis was only a short walk from where we were staying.
We’d booked a massage appointment two days prior, and fortunately they let you ponder your options until literally just before the massage.
Upon our arrival, we were taken down instantly. There was no waiting around. No faffing about. A very let’s get right to it vibe that was refreshing.
The massage itself lasted an hour. We ended up opting for the “Relax Massage”, which covered the whole body.
It was soothing and rhythmic, and expertly executed. My masseuse was adaptable, and improvised specific strokes according to where she found tension and knots.
The gentle sounds of the background music offered further peace and calm. By the time the hour was up, it felt as though every muscle had received its own little dose of rejuvenation.
Overall, it was a treat we thought we deserved. But it certainly isn’t the only way to revive yourself from travel burnout.
It could be as simple as spending the day inside binging your favourite movies. Or going for a slow and aimless walk among nature.
Either way, these are the moments that are crucial to the survival of the adventure. Without this recharge, you just end up wearing yourself out completely.
So while the last 8 months were incredible and we consider ourselves extremely lucky to have even been travelling, there were definitely hard or tiring times to balance it all out.
Currently back in the UK to get our vaccines, the plan is to keep recharging, so that when the time comes again (hopefully in a couple of months), the travel burnout will have reset and the adventure can continue.