There are some things that can be done to manage the almost inevitable slump that follows the holidays. Returning to the daily routine can be distressing and cause anxiety, so you have to face it with a positive attitude. We leave you some tricks to be able to do it.
They say that a good thing is brief, twice as good, but we agree that there are some things, like vacations, that almost always fall short.
Vacations have been shown to reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being. However, the studies provide another fact that you may intuit: the happiness that is felt during the holidays does not usually last . When they run out, people return to their initial happiness levels within a few days.
So, are vacations a waste of time and money? Depending on how you look at it, we also sleep every night knowing that the next day we will be tired again. Rather, the question would be how to overcome the post-holiday blues and, if possible, how to avoid it.
What is post-holiday depression?
Post -holiday sadness is characterized by feelings of boredom and tiredness, disenchantment , inhibition, anhedonia, sadness, malaise, anxiety, social phobia, etc. This is a transitory problem that can actually become something more worrying despite the fact that “post-holiday syndrome” is not described as such in any diagnostic category.
Symptoms of post-holiday depression
The symptoms of post-holiday depression are:
- Lack of motivation
- Sadness.
- Anxiety.
- Decay.
- Lack of energy.
- Apathy.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Difficult to focus.
- Perception of not being able to adapt.
How to prevent post-holiday depression
If you have the feeling that sadness will be waiting for you on the doorstep when you return home, it would be interesting for you to take some preventive measures before leaving on vacation . This will help you to make the return more pleasant and that the post- vacation blues stay in nothing.
1. Leave the house clean and tidy.
If you can, leave the bed with clean sheets. Going home and everything is tidy will be a relief after the return trip. If you are tired, all you need is a shower and rest. Leave the beautiful house so that you will be happy to return.
2. Give yourself a transition day.
Try to leave at least one day between the end of a trip and the start of work. A day of adaptation to the routine will help for a soft landing to reality. So you can unpack your suitcase, do the laundry, do the shopping and take care of any unforeseen event with peace of mind.
3. Have plans for the return.
It can be meeting some friends, going to a museum, an event. Look for something cheap and fun so that when you return you have things to do.
How to get over the post-holiday slump
Do you feel like you’ve come back from vacation and the world is falling on you? If post-holiday blues are making you bitter… don’t worry, there are some things you can do to get over it.
1. Reconnect with friends and family. Sharing time with the people you care about will make you feel better. And if not, at least you’ll (hopefully) have a shoulder to cry on.
2. Change routines. Perhaps on vacation you did something that you loved, try to introduce it into your daily life. Your city may be so familiar to you that it has begun to bore you. What if you explore it as if you were on vacation? It’s about doing new things.
3. Stay hydrated and eat well. Take care of what you eat, cook calmly. That can help you feel better physically and mentally. If you have traveled by plane, try to drink plenty of water because airplane cabins are known to dehydrate.
4. Document your vacations. Extend the experience by printing, organizing, uploading and sharing your photos.
5. Give you the air, literally. Short, regular walks in nature can have the same calming and restorative effect as a good vacation. Outdoors mood improves and stress levels decrease.
6. Order your environment. Changing the space you’re in, even in small ways, could improve your mood. Clutter is the least helpful. If the thought of decluttering overwhelms you, focus on one small thing at a time, like a drawer.
Read also: Work stress and how to deal with it
