Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Rest, Recharge, and Remember What It’s All About
Atlanta Pride has come and gone, and if you were anywhere near Piedmont Park this past weekend, you probably saw it all — the rainbows, the glitter, the joy, the protests, and yes, the hangovers. Pride is a beautiful, chaotic celebration of who we are, but even the most seasoned revelers know that when the last parade float rolls away, reality hits hard. Your body is tired, your voice is gone, and your emotions might feel a little tangled.
So before you dive back into work or your next big weekend, take a moment to recover with pride. Here’s how to do it right — body, mind, and soul.
Rehydrate Like It’s Your Job
After a weekend of dancing, sweating, drinking, and maybe skipping a few meals, your body is begging for hydration. Pride weekend in Atlanta can feel like a marathon, not a sprint — and dehydration can linger for days. The best fix? Water, of course, but don’t overlook electrolytes. Drinks like coconut water or electrolyte mixes can help your system rebalance faster.
Try this trick: for every cocktail or beer you had during Pride, drink at least one full glass of water now. You’ll flush out toxins, reduce fatigue, and your skin will thank you.
Move, But Gently
We know — the last thing you might want to do is exercise after logging thousands of steps from bar to bar and parade to afterparty. But some light activity can actually help your recovery. Go for a short walk through Piedmont Park, take a yoga class, or stretch it out at home. Gentle movement boosts circulation, clears brain fog, and helps ease post-party stiffness.
If you need extra motivation, make it social — grab your Pride crew for a casual coffee walk or a mellow hike at the BeltLine. It’s a nice way to decompress together and share highlights (and maybe a few confessions) from the weekend.
Feed Yourself with Kindness
After a weekend of fast food, snacks, and liquid calories, your body needs real nourishment. Think colorful fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains — basically, food that loves you back. Pride is all about joy and celebration, but post-Pride should be about restoration.
Cooking a healthy meal for yourself (or your partner, or your roommates) can be grounding. It’s also a chance to slow down and process everything that happened.
Check In on Your Sexual Health
Pride weekends are famously flirty — and that’s part of the fun. But recovery also means taking care of your sexual health. If you hooked up, now’s a good time to schedule an STI test or consider preventive care like Doxy-PEP, a new tool that can reduce the risk of certain bacterial STIs when taken shortly after sex.
If you’re on PrEP, make sure you’re up to date on your doses, and if you’ve fallen out of your routine, now’s a great time to reconnect with your provider or local clinic. Atlanta has several LGBTQ+ health centers, including AID Atlanta and Positive Impact Health Centers, that make testing and care easy, judgment-free, and often affordable.
Remember: caring for your body is an act of pride, too.
Don’t Ignore the Emotional Hangover
For many in the LGBTQ+ community, Pride isn’t just a party — it’s a reminder of what we’ve fought for and what still challenges us. The weekend can bring up old wounds, from memories of rejection to the pain of seeing protestors spewing hate along the parade route. That kind of emotional weight can linger.
If you’re feeling drained or down after all the excitement, you’re not alone. The “post-Pride blues” are real. Between overstimulation, lack of sleep, and the emotional rollercoaster of visibility, it’s natural to crash.
Take time to rest, journal, or talk with a trusted friend. If the feelings run deeper — maybe tapping into trauma around coming out or religious rejection — consider reaching out to a queer therapist. Organizations like Positive Impact Health Centers offer LGBTQ+-affirming counseling in Atlanta. Mental health is just as vital as physical recovery.
Reflect and Reconnect
After the noise fades, Pride’s deeper message remains: resilience, visibility, and love. Think about what moments stood out most for you — the spontaneous dance party, the protest signs that made you tear up, or the stranger who gave you a hug when you needed one. These are the reasons we show up year after year.
Write a note to yourself about what Pride meant to you this year. Maybe it was joy. Maybe it was anger. Maybe it was relief. Whatever it was, it’s valid.
Pride may last just one weekend, but recovery — both physical and emotional — is an ongoing act of self-love. So hydrate, rest, check your health, and take care of your heart. The glitter may wash off, but the pride stays with you.