Solo travel can be one of the most transformative experiences one can have. I’ve solo traveled all over the world, and every journey I’ve been on has taught me new things and expanded my perspective. However, sometimes the transition back to the life I lived before my journey can feel daunting; there can be a lot of change that happens out in the world, and this post will help you navigate it to honor your experience and uplevel your life at home.

Whether you were traveling full-time for years or were gone for just a week, coming back to the life you knew before solo traveling is a unique experience. Just like how you need to unpack your clothes and momentos after a trip, unpacking the experiences you had is just as important of a task. Jumping right back into the world as you knew it without taking into account any change in perspective, growth, or inspiration you gained, is like disregarding the life-changing experience that is traveling alone out in the world.

If you were gone somewhere long enough to pack a bag, you should revisit this “unpacking list” every time you return home; this post is a guide to help you implement the lessons you gained in the world into your home life. This is your journey, no one else’s. So, tune into the change and see where it takes you.

Solo Travel “Unpacking” List:

1. Journal

When one undergoes a life-changing experience, they reflect on it. Point blank. And no, a photo dump on Instagram does not count as a reflection. Through this retrospect, you may discover a whole new appreciation for the growth you’re capable of seeing, no matter where you are on the map.

If you journaled throughout your journey, don’t stop now! There is so much more to journaling than documenting your experiences and adventures on the road. The clarity, realizations, and self-discovery you gain from reflective journaling are valuable additions to your daily adventure of life at home. Sometimes, the simplest environments can lead us to our deepest discoveries.

Write about your favorite parts of your trip, the hardest moments you experienced, and when you felt most at peace; see where it takes you. Some parts of our minds and thoughts are only accessible by practices like journaling. Start writing about your daily life, too! Ask yourself questions about the things you like to do in your free time, what new hobbies you may want to try, things that are bothering you at work, how you want to spend the upcoming weekend, etc. There is no right way to journal; just start writing and see what flows.

If you need some help getting started, check out some of my journal prompts here.

2. Purge Your Closet

This one may seem like something you would overlook, but I highly recommend leaning into it. No matter where you went on your solo journey or how long you were gone, for that duration of time, you lived with limited clothing and material options. Living with less undoubtedly led you to live more intentionally with your options and possibly opened your mind a bit without the distraction of clutter.

Since you just experienced a life adjacent to minimalism, you should take that mindset straight to your closet! You’ll feel more prepared to donate the things you’ve held on to for too long, and you’ll know more about yourself and your style, which will make it easier to decipher whether something is truly meant to be in your closet.

3. Make Plans with Friends

Solo traveling can surface a sense of longing for people in our lives, whether they live near or far. The bond you deepened with yourself on your trip will translate into other relationships in your life. This post-travel period is a great time to catch up with friends either in person or over video call, and a great opportunity to strengthen the connections that mean something to you. Get some meet-ups on the calendar, host a game night, or send your long-distance friends some of your favorite pictures from your trip.

4. Learn the Language

If you were traveling in a place that spoke a foreign language, this is a great time to build on what you’ve picked up when you were there. We often try to cram the basics of a language into our memory right before leaving for a trip, but language learning requires time and consistency. Check out my blog post, 7 Tips to Improve Your Second Language, to keep the ball rolling. If your future travels involve a different language than your previous places, get a head start on the new language and start your practice now!

I hope these tips help you unite your travels and time at home. Leave any other tips you have or what has helped you most after coming home from a solo journey down in the comments.

Happy unpacking!

Emma