Pre-Camino blues?

[Salpal]

I will be doing the Camino at end May this year and have been planning it for a year already.

I am having such trouble concentrating on anything else at the moment. Work and people are irritating me immensely and I just want to tell everyone to get lost and just start walking!!!

I'm sure I'm having a serious case of pre-camino blues!!! Anyone else felt this....is it normal

 

[Turga]

I'm sure I'm having a serious case of pre-camino blues!!! Anyone else felt this....is it normal

It is very normal - don't worry
Buen Camino!

 

[Turga]

I should add that when you return from your Camino, you can look forward to the Post-Camino Blues – or adaption to “normal life” period.

If you search this forum you will find several threads dealing with Pre-Camino Blues, Post-Camino blues, Pre-Camino Syndrome, etc…. It’s all part of the packet, so enjoy

 

[Martin 888]

Get out on the trails near where you live and train hard by walking long distance.....then your training will not only improve your Camino experience but in itself will shake off the pre-Camino blues because essentially you will have started already......training is a big and advisable part of the whole thing. Freezing and icy here in Nova Scotia today but because it’s not going to snow today I will walk 23 kms.....Buen Camino !

 

[Martin 888]

My trail today.....bbrrrr !

 

[Juspassinthru]

I don’t know if it’s normal but, I and my friends who walked the CF in 2017 experienced the same thing. What is normal anyway?

 

[nidarosa]

I am having a serious and chronic case of between-camino blues but going for a two week intensive symptom relief treatment on the CF next month. Yup, all normal.

 

[SeñorJacques]

I will be doing the Camino at end May this year and have been planning it for a year already.

I am having such trouble concentrating on anything else at the moment. Work and people are irritating me immensely and I just want to tell everyone to get lost and just start walking!!!

I'm sure I'm having a serious case of pre-camino blues!!! Anyone else felt this....is it normal

Definitely feeling this myself, and have also been wondering whether it’s “normal”. Glad I’m not alone. May 6 can’t get here quickly enough, but I’m going to use the time between now and then as constructively as I can. (Will probably take me at least that long to conclusively decide whether taking a rain jacket *and* a poncho really is a good idea.)

 

[Salpal]

Definitely feeling this myself, and have also been wondering whether it’s “normal”. Glad I’m not alone. May 6 can’t get here quickly enough, but I’m going to use the time between now and then as constructively as I can. (Will probably take me at least that long to conclusively decide whether taking a rain jacket *and* a poncho really is a good idea.)

So glad I'm not alone! I'm trying to conclusively decide whether to take trainers *and* sandals

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi, Salpal. . . .

Part of the reason folks walk a pilgrimage is to gain a sense of balance mentally, physically, and spiritually. It seems that now is a good time to begin. . . to take those things that are bothering or upsetting you, and try to identify ways to cope.

It might help to write your thoughts down, as stresses occur. This can help you focus on practical ways to deal with those things that are getting to you.

Strengthen and build your core muscle-group of Patience; it will serve you well when you finally start your walk. This can help help you spiritually and mentally as much as physical conditioning will help your cardiovascular system and muscles.

Daily life on Camino is filled with potential irritations and venues of impatience. From snoring in albergue dorms, to concern about finding a bed after a weary day of walking, to bikes whizzing by at breakneck speed demanding that YOU move out of the way. . . So now is a great opportunity to build patience.

Focus on the 'now'. Anticipation of a future event is demanding the bulk of your attention, sort of like when we were kids waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. So meditate on and practice Contentment at meeting your needs in the present.

Walking a Camino is almost a forced focus on what you are experiencing and feeling, not just for the day, but from one moment to the next. It is a cycle of sleeping, walking, and eating. Rinse and repeat. If one is not content with doing that, but is, instead, constantly focused on how quickly you can get to a certain place to see certain sights or experience a certain event or make sure you have a bed or . . . Well, you might miss the goodness of the walking by fixating on what is to come, instead of what you have right then.

Think of 'today' NOT as a blockade to what you want to do in May, but as a blessing of opportunities at work and home. As you work your physical body in training, use your daily life to work out mentally and spiritually. The future will come soon enough.

 

[Salpal]

Hi, Salpal. . . .

Part of the reason folks walk a pilgrimage is to gain a sense of balance mentally, physically, and spiritually. It seems that now is a good time to begin. . . to take those things that are bothering or upsetting you, and try to identify ways to cope.

It might help to write your thoughts down, as stresses occur. This can help you focus on practical ways to deal with those things that are getting to you.

Strengthen and build your core muscle-group of Patience; it will serve you well when you finally start your walk. This can help help you spiritually and mentally as much as physical conditioning will help your cardiovascular system and muscles.

Daily life on Camino is filled with potential irritations and venues of impatience. From snoring in albergue dorms, to concern about finding a bed after a weary day of walking, to bikes whizzing by at breakneck speed demanding that YOU move out of the way. . . So now is a great opportunity to build patience.

Focus on the 'now'. Anticipation of a future event is demanding the bulk of your attention, sort of like when we were kids waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. So meditate on and practice Contentment at meeting your needs in the present.

Walking a Camino is almost a forced focus on what you are experiencing and feeling, not just for the day, but from one moment to the next. It is a cycle of sleeping, walking, and eating. Rinse and repeat. If one is not content with doing that, but is, instead, constantly focused on how quickly you can get to a certain place to see certain sights or experience a certain event or make sure you have a bed or . . . Well, you might miss the goodness of the walking by fixating on what is to come, instead of what you have right then.

Think of 'today' NOT as a blockade to what you want to do in May, but as a blessing of opportunities at work and home. As you work your physical body in training, use your daily life to work out mentally and spiritually. The future will come soon enough.

Oh wow davebugg thank you for the wake up call! You are so right and I really needed to hear that! Thank you for taking the time in writing that. Definitely need that guidance ... wanna walk with me! Haha! Seriously thank you. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that!

 

[bikerkvw]

The Pre Camino Blues? I never heard of it or experienced it. I get excited, happy, experience anticipation, read Camino Blogs, read and reread my guide books and I am happy with training . I don’t get cranky as the Camino brings me happiness. Even thinking about it now makes a smile form on my face.

 

[Sue127]

I will be doing the Camino at end May this year and have been planning it for a year already.

I am having such trouble concentrating on anything else at the moment. Work and people are irritating me immensely and I just want to tell everyone to get lost and just start walking!!!

I'm sure I'm having a serious case of pre-camino blues!!! Anyone else felt this....is it normal

I was planning my first Camino for Sept/Oct this year, but an hour ago, informed my husband that it will likely be May/June. Getting impatient to go.

 

[Corelacka]

I will be doing the Camino at end May this year and have been planning it for a year already.

I am having such trouble concentrating on anything else at the moment. Work and people are irritating me immensely and I just want to tell everyone to get lost and just start walking!!!

I'm sure I'm having a serious case of pre-camino blues!!! Anyone else felt this....is it normal

I too am doing SJPDP-SDC starting end of May and to stave off any pre-Camino blues I just did Sarria to Santiago this week! It has been a wonderful antidote to any type of blues a body might experience mid winter ¡Buen Camino!

 

[zenofmatthew]

Same boat!
Maybe same sandal makes more sense.

I just keep training.

 

[ManShootsSnaps]

Same .. although nearer starting the end if April
I get through by watching a lot of YT videos, but itchy feet for sure.

I will be doing the Camino at end May this year and have been planning it for a year already.

I am having such trouble concentrating on anything else at the moment. Work and people are irritating me immensely and I just want to tell everyone to get lost and just start walking!!!

I'm sure I'm having a serious case of pre-camino blues!!! Anyone else felt this....is it normal

 

[Jay Es]

Hi, Salpal. . . .

Part of the reason folks walk a pilgrimage is to gain a sense of balance mentally, physically, and spiritually. It seems that now is a good time to begin. . . to take those things that are bothering or upsetting you, and try to identify ways to cope.

It might help to write your thoughts down, as stresses occur. This can help you focus on practical ways to deal with those things that are getting to you.

Strengthen and build your core muscle-group of Patience; it will serve you well when you finally start your walk. This can help help you spiritually and mentally as much as physical conditioning will help your cardiovascular system and muscles.

Daily life on Camino is filled with potential irritations and venues of impatience. From snoring in albergue dorms, to concern about finding a bed after a weary day of walking, to bikes whizzing by at breakneck speed demanding that YOU move out of the way. . . So now is a great opportunity to build patience.

Focus on the 'now'. Anticipation of a future event is demanding the bulk of your attention, sort of like when we were kids waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. So meditate on and practice Contentment at meeting your needs in the present.

Walking a Camino is almost a forced focus on what you are experiencing and feeling, not just for the day, but from one moment to the next. It is a cycle of sleeping, walking, and eating. Rinse and repeat. If one is not content with doing that, but is, instead, constantly focused on how quickly you can get to a certain place to see certain sights or experience a certain event or make sure you have a bed or . . . Well, you might miss the goodness of the walking by fixating on what is to come, instead of what you have right then.

Think of 'today' NOT as a blockade to what you want to do in May, but as a blessing of opportunities at work and home. As you work your physical body in training, use your daily life to work out mentally and spiritually. The future will come soon enough.

Lots of great thoughts there.

 

[Mariy]

Pre-camino blues was more about anxienty because it's was my first one. Post-Camino is harder, because you just want to go back and do it again.

 

[Toedeloe72]

So good to read this, I am having the same issues. I can't stop thinking about my Camino which will start in Lisbon on April 15th and because it's my first time I am also very anxious about what to expect. Just hang in there it will be spring before you know it ;-)

 

[Robo]

I will be doing the Camino at end May this year and have been planning it for a year already.

I am having such trouble concentrating on anything else at the moment. Work and people are irritating me immensely and I just want to tell everyone to get lost and just start walking!!!

I'm sure I'm having a serious case of pre-camino blues!!! Anyone else felt this....is it normal

It will be worse when you get back !