More agonizing than returning to work: The 10 harshest realities you don’t want to face after a trip

The 10 harshest realities you don’t want to face after a trip — which one do you wish you could skip? (Photo / EasyTravel)

With the Dragon Boat Festival holiday over and the wanderlust still lingering, many are dreading the Monday blues of returning to work the next day. But there’s something even more crushing than getting back to the office, according to netizens. A recent online ranking survey released today (31st) by a travel website titled “The 10 harshest realities you don’t want to face after a trip” reveals that post-holiday work anxiety only ranks second. The harsh reality that most people dread the most is the arrival of all kinds of bills.

A survey by travel website EasyTravel on the 10 harshest realities you don’t want to face after a trip found that the top vote-getter was “all kinds of bills,” ranked as the most dreaded. These include credit card bills from reckless spending abroad, as well as everyday expenses back home such as pet boarding fees and phone bills. The thought of a drained wallet is enough to make anyone cringe, securing its spot at number one in the poll.

Other common post-trip realities include “Monday blues after returning to work,” which came in second. Even if you avoid stepping on the scale, the feeling of tighter pants doesn’t lie — “unnoticed weight gain” took third place. Also making the list were “piles of luggage to sort,” “jet lag that won’t reset,” “skin turned into charcoal,” “being asked ‘Was it fun?’ a hundred times,” and “memory-hogging photos.” All of these leave travelers just wanting to throw up their hands and take a break.

In addition, being asked by relatives and friends for souvenirs or being met with attitude for not bringing back purchases also ranked high on the awkwardness scale. Especially when you didn’t buy many souvenirs yourself but still have to give away your own loot — it’s hard not to feel a sting. Finally, being badgered or given the cold shoulder by relatives who asked you to shop for them but couldn’t get what they wanted came in tenth place.