Back to work: 5 tips to avoid post-holiday blues

What’s the most eagerly awaited time of the year? The holidays! And the least eagerly awaited?… Going back to work. Everything comes to an end. And even the happiest of holidays are no exception to this reality.

When we go on holiday, we make a drastic change to our routine; we feel free, we travel, we visit friends, we read books, we recharge our batteries and we relieve stress – in short, we do things we don’t normally have time for. On returning to work, we experience a clash between the pleasure of the holidays and the stress of getting back into the routine. This clash can affect our productivity at work, and we may even suffer from ‘post-holiday syndrome’ or ‘post-holiday depression’.

What is post-holiday syndrome?

It is the anxiety caused by the process of readjusting to the work routine after a holiday. It usually lasts between one and two weeks.

Vicente Gil, Medical Director at Cigna, tells us that ‘Returning to the routine requires an adaptation process that every worker must go through. If this does not happen, genuine cases of acute stress may arise, with the characteristic emotional and physical symptoms that accompany it’.

The professionals most likely to suffer from this syndrome are those with a low tolerance for change and lower resilience, as well as those whose working conditions are unsuitable due to an excessive workload, interpersonal problems or performing highly routine tasks.

So, what are the symptoms of post-holiday syndrome? Apathy, lack of energy, lack of motivation, tiredness, lack of concentration, stress, sadness, bad mood, high anxiety and sleep disturbance.

That is why we must try to minimise the chances of suffering from this syndrome, as it affects our lives in general and our social environment whilst we are adjusting back to our work routine.

But returning to work doesn’t have to be traumatic. In this article, we set out the key strategies for returning from the summer feeling motivated to work and without any stress:

A positive attitude

It is essential to maintain a positive attitude to see the world through rose-tinted glasses and make the most of the opportunities around you. A positive attitude is crucial for getting through the adjustment period and realising that the work routine also includes enjoyable experiences.

Organisation

One of the biggest hurdles when we return to work is the thought that we’ll no longer have time for ourselves, that we won’t be able to pursue the hobbies and leisure activities we love so much. But it doesn’t have to be that way. All it takes is a bit of organisation, planning your days and carving out some time just for yourself. That time for personal enjoyment must be sacrosanct, as there needs to be a balance between work and personal life to feel fulfilled.

Turning weekends into mini-breaks

Weekends are days set aside for rest, to recharge the energy lost during the week. But… we spend most of them dealing with more stress: cleaning, running errands, doing odd jobs, and so on. Plan your weekends as mini-breaks that allow you to escape the daily grind and keep you looking forward to your next weekend.

Avoid taking long holiday periods

The longer the holiday period, the harder it will be to return to work. Try to split your holidays into periods of less than 21 days, as 21 days is long enough to form a habit. If holidays become a habit, the transition back to work will be more difficult.

Tidy up your tasks before going on holiday

This will make your return to work less of a shock and will also prevent any inconvenience to your colleagues whilst you’re away. With everything in order, the return will be smoother. Remember that the first few days are for catching up on what has happened whilst you were away, which will be impossible if you have outstanding tasks. It is advisable to set yourself objectives and draw up a work plan for the first week back.

Here are some strategies to ensure a successful return to work and to help us maintain the positive attitude and motivation needed to perform well and achieve the expected results.