Taking a long vacation following an extended period of hard work is something everyone longs for and needs to recharge their battery ready to resume grafting. However, those who stop working for a few days at a stretch may feel reluctant to take on the workload that awaits them again. Just thinking about their work makes them feel depressed. That’s what we call post-vacation blues or post-vacation depression. What exactly are the symptoms and how can we deal with them? Let’s see.

What exactly is post-vacation blues/depression?

The first thing to note is that post-vacation blues or depression isn’t a symptom of any psychiatric disorder. It's just depressed feelings arising after a long holiday which only last a little while. Once you’re back in your old routine, the depression just goes away naturally. It’s just that the contrast between having tons of fun on holiday and taking care of business at work is so stark as to undermine motivation. The prospect of facing everyday life again just makes you miserable.

Coping with post-vacation depression

As a temporary condition that only occurs after a change of environment, there are ways to make the adjustment easier which you can use to avoid a repeat next time you go on holiday:

•       Tidy your home and get everything organized before you leave for your holiday

Our natural inclination is to leave things where they land while we’re packing to clear up when we get home. Preparations for a holiday can be tiring, so you want to take it a bit easy if you can. However, if we allow some time for cleaning the home, including changing the bedding, before leaving, we’re going to feel better when we get home.

•       Be happy and stay in the present

No matter how many days off you’ve got or whatever you’ve got planned, try to focus on what's in front of you and experience it to the full. You'll realize that you really deserve it and feel happy. In fact, whether a holiday or any other day, you can still be happy.

•       See your holidays as rewards for hard work

If we look at holidays as a reward smart people deserve, we will count down to the next vacation with a pleasant sense of anticipation. The build-up to each getaway will be a pleasure. It will also give us more energy and encouragement.

•       Exercise regularly

Exercise releases endorphins, hormones that make us happy and forget our sorrows momentarily. When your body is strong and active, your mental state will be healthy as well.

•       Adjust your sleep time to return to balance

During holidays, it is common for our resting times to change due to the different schedule of activities. The change is even more marked when we travel abroad to a different time zone. It can all make you feel a bit tired, so for the first few days back from your trip, you need to readjust your bedtime and body clock to your regular daily life settings. Aim to go to bed around 10:00 p.m. every night so you get a good 7-8 hours’ sleep which your body needs to recover properly from each day’s exertions.

Holidays are a time for relaxation of both body and mind. They’re a reward for all your hard work. You can avoid post-vacation depression and make your next trip more fun, before, during and after, by following these tips.

Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers can find out about different varieties of mental health issues online for free. For more information, please visit:  https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/MindHealth.

References

·      Samitivej Hospital
https://bit.ly/3PUdLhq

·      Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-tapas/201003/post-vacation-blues

·      Healthline
https://www.healthline.com/health/post-vacation-blues