Throwback photos can hit you with a pang of nostalgia at the best of times, but after the year we’ve collectively had, seeing an old holiday snap of you nonchalantly enjoying a pina colada somewhere sunny is enough to send anyone into a state of emotional turmoil.

Unfortunately, technology is not your friend when it comes to FOMO. Our smartphones regularly surprise us with ‘memories’ – photographic highlights from years previous where we could book a last-minute holiday and find ourselves on a beach a few weeks later.

If you’ve recently woken up to an ill-timed photo of you living your best life somewhere tropical, here are some of the emotional stages you can probably relate to…

1. Grief

You have to go through a bunch of unpleasant emotions before you can finally scroll through the evidence of your last big getaway with some level of composure – and the first stage of having zero chill is grief.

You can’t help but think how great life was back in the days when weekend minibreaks were a thing, and you’re mourning the person you used to be before the words ‘lockdown’ and ‘Tier 4’ could trigger you into a state of deep anxiety. Not to brag either, but your tan was pretty great too.

2. Annoyance

You can’t help but hate everyone and everything for inflicting this adventure-less life on you. Your flatmate or partner is unwittingly on the receiving end of your resentment and you’re not quite sure why you’re taking it out on them, but it feels good to bring everyone’s mood down with you.

Hatred of everything is an awkward but totally normal stage of processing old holiday photos, but it usually passes quickly.

3. Impatience

You know the politicians keep saying things will reopen properly in the summertime, but that still feels like ages away.

You want to be all zen and stuff, but you’re also massively impatient and you just want to to be in the airport Wetherspoons right now, excitedly waiting for your flight. This lockdown business is seriously testing the outermost limits of your patience.

4. Panic

What if things never go back to normal? What if these jovial holiday snaps of you and your mates, looking lobster pink from sunburn, are the last time you’ll ever get to properly enjoy a holiday? Allowing yourself to peek back at these photos has really pushed you to breaking point.

5. Acceptance

OK, things might not be great, but it’s going to get better. Once you embrace the grief, you can start to heal and move on.

If you’re holding yourself brutally accountable for the pain you’ve caused yourself for refusing to go on that last stag weekend, or passing up the opportunity for a holiday back in 2019, then it’s time to love yourself and let go.

6. Optimism

As painful as it might be, looking back on holiday snaps is making you excited for when things do reopen again.

You can’t wait to pack a bunch of books you’ll never get round to reading, you’re thrilled at the thought of not having to cook for once and you’re definitely going to spend a small fortune on souvenirs you’ll never use.

You’re even looking forward to the inevitable holiday mishaps, arguments and dramas. Bring on the delayed flights, dodgy tummies and family feuds.