Tips For Beating the Mid-Expedition Blues
As Seabirds, we love being out on expeditions. New places, people, activities, it’s all incredible, beautiful, and awe-inspiring. But so much newness and challenge can also be daunting, scary, and overwhelming. Even the most intrepid explorers experience what we call the mid-expedition blues: usually just before the midway point, when everyone starts to feel a little homesick or over-socialized.
On our most recent Arctic expedition, hosted by Blue Green Expeditions and Oceanwide Expeditions, there was one family dinner that helped us identify these big and hard feelings. “I don’t know why, I’m just kinda sad,” one of our explorers confessed. “I’m okay, but just kinda sad.”
“Thank you for saying that,” another chimed in. “I’ve also been feeling off and didn’t know why, and I wasn’t brave enough to say it.”
Soon, one by one, all of us acknowledged what had been bubbling and brewing, and that we’d perhaps been trying to ignore. There were many tears at the table letting all that out. Afterward, we also shared some practical tips we had been using to help us cope with these pressures. Now, we want to share those with you, in case you ever find yourself worse for wear.
Seabirds Squad Tips for Beating the Mid-Expedition Blues:
● Remember that expeditions are long and challenging. It’s normal and okay to have complex and nuanced emotions about it.
● Talk to your team. Be honest about how you feel. Chances are, someone else is also feeling that way.
● Change your outfit to get out of a funk. New clothes can reset the whole vibe of a day.
● Establish a routine. Going to ship life can be very disruptive to personal routines, so try to keep up with things you do regularly or make new ship routines. For example, go for a walk around the ship every evening for some alone time and exercise. Read on the bridge. Wake up for sunrise. Have family dinners. Paint or draw at night. Journal before bed.
● It’s okay to cry! And, for curious minds, your tears don’t freeze on your eyeballs! 😂
● Find your own place on the ship. It can feel very claustrophobic, but there’s always a hiding spot you can find to have some alone time and to recharge your batteries.
● Take the pressure off—there’s no need to achieve X, Y, Z. Being there is enough.
● Most importantly, BE YOU! It’s tempting to think you have to be so many things to be accepted with world class artists, scientists, explorers, storytellers, etc. But you belong here, too, just as you are. And, when you give yourself permission to show up as your authentic self, you give your unique strengths and talents a chance to shine and contribute to the overall mission.
