Returning to routine after vacation can affect our health.
August comes to an end and many say goodbye to their vacations. Cities come alive and the return to routine is getting closer for everyone. Half seriously, half jokingly, the lack of motivation when returning to work and stress will be recurring topics in the coming days. This is a situation that, if poorly managed, can lead to the well-known post-vacation syndrome.
Returning from vacation is always a change and becomes more complex when the rest period extends beyond the usual weekend. It is during this first part of September when the return to daily life obligations is massively felt. The radical and sudden change in lifestyle can take a toll on health and adaptation to work or school life can become complicated.
Post-vacation syndrome occurs when a person returns from a period of leisure to resume “normal” active life. Additionally, it causes discomfort during the development of the usual routine and performance decreases. It has not been described as a pathology but rather as an adjustment disorder that prevents the person from fully facing the situations that arise upon returning to work.
Post-vacation syndrome lasts approximately fifteen days and is a reality experienced by 45% of Spaniards. When the disorder exceeds the two-week mark, serious discomfort begins to occur and episodes of acute stress may appear. At that point, it is advisable to seek professional help to alleviate the suffering that may develop.
Although possible, very rarely does the individual unable to readapt to active life experience high levels of depression and anxiety. In those cases, constant negativity contaminates their personal space and everything around them, from the work environment to private life.
The risk of falling into addictive behaviors increases.
When It Rains, It Pours
People who experience episodes of lack of adaptation with high levels of stress are usually not happy with their work life. They are frequently dissatisfied with their job or do not enjoy it. They also believe they are not being sufficiently valued professionally. They may even view it as a burden to be endured in order to access vacation time.
The most common symptoms of post-vacation syndrome are:
- Depression and low mood
- Apathy
- Lack of energy and motivation
- Anxiety
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Decreased attention and concentration
Ways to counteract post-vacation syndrome:
- Return a few days early to facilitate the process of adapting to daily life; do not start working the day immediately after returning.
- If possible, return to work gradually
- Incorporate or resume non-work activities into the usual routine to occupy time and clear the mind
- Exercise to stay active
- Progressively adapt the vacation schedule to the work schedule to facilitate the start, progress, and completion of the workday
- To the extent possible, perform planned actions and activities according to motivation level
- Do not bring work home; keep work and private life separate
- Maintaining a healthy diet can help improve mood and emotional stability
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and other stimulants, as they can increase anxiety and stress
- Get the necessary hours of sleep
- Practice relaxing activities
With the right motivation and effort, post-vacation syndrome will disappear after a few days. A healthy life that cultivates well-being is not a life of permanent escape from daily activities; it is knowing how to approach them so as not to have to escape from them… not even with vacations. And for everyone, happy back to school!
