This August, we're back to our post-holiday routine. Gone are the days of relaxing on the beach or in the mountains. Back to the grind, back to work, back to the cabbage, back to the early mornings and the hustle and bustle.
With this vision of the near future, it's only natural that, according to various studies, around 30% of people suffer from what's known as “post-vacation syndrome”. Those in the know warn that this is not an illness, but a state of general malaise.
Those who suffer from it experience generalized weakness, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, irritability and may even feel vital anguish.
Psychological experts confirm that there are effective ways of minimizing the effects of a return to routine.
Júlia Pascual, director of Barcelona's Centre de Thérapie Stratégique Brève, asserts in her speech web page that “it's a ‘crime' to use the term depression to define this possible phenomenon, as it's a way of trivializing a pathology that can become very disabling”. In his opinion, it's more appropriate to talk about vacation stress or melancholy.
For the psychologist, the symptoms mentioned are generally accompanied by a lack of motivation and sadness. This state usually lasts two to three days, but some people suffer from it for up to 21 days, until they adapt to their new reality. “When the discomfort persists over time, it can generate anxiety disorders or depression,” he points out.
Tips for getting back into the routine after the vacations
These are psychologists' tips for making the return to work not so hard.
Plan a gradual return to routine. The idea is for you to gradually adapt your biorhythms to the new reality. If possible, come home a few days early, before going to work.
No rush. If you've been practising stress-free, slow living during your vacations, continue as long as possible on break. Don't fill your diary with things for the first few weeks.
Adopt healthy habits. During the vacation days you ate well, exercised and slept well, continue to practice this type of healthy living when you return.
Focus your life on the positive. We can't think about vacations for 11 months of the year, enjoy them for one and regret it later. Think about the here and now and try to see all the good that life brings every day.
Profile of the sufferer
According to Júlia Pascual, there are four types of people more predisposed to suffering from this post-holiday syndrome:
the planner
This is the person who, before starting work, already thinks through and plans in great detail what he or she is going to do at work. He exercises a daily control that they usually also carry out before and after the vacations. And he feels uncomfortable at the thought of any change.
the phobic
This is a person who is afraid to face up to his work situation and avoid it, would always be on vacation. These are people who, for fear of making mistakes or not being up to the job, avoid and delegate their professional responsibilities to others.
The controller
People who perform rituals to encourage the smooth running of their workday. Certain types of obsessive-compulsive disorder. For example, those who, before going to work, have to look and check several times when the lights are off and the doors closed.
the negative prophet
In this group are those who always have catastrophic and negative thoughts, which make them anxious, sad, nervous and irritable.
The psychologist invites us to accept the emotions we have to live with. For example, he says it would be a good idea to write down on a piece of paper the anger you feel and why, then tear it to pieces, as this will help you channel it.
On the other hand, he advises “allow yourself not to do everything by accepting the unexpected and also by making mistakes; and every day, choose one small thing in the morning that you will face with confidence that everything will be all right.
How to overcome post-vacation syndrome
With this vision of the near future, it's only natural that, according to various studies, around 30% of people suffer from what's known as “post-vacation syndrome”. Those in the know warn that this is not an illness, but a state of general malaise.
Those who suffer from it experience generalized weakness, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, irritability and may even feel vital anguish.
Psychological experts confirm that there are effective ways of minimizing the effects of a return to routine.
Júlia Pascual, director of Barcelona's Centre de Thérapie Stratégique Brève, asserts in her speech web page that “it's a ‘crime' to use the term depression to define this possible phenomenon, as it's a way of trivializing a pathology that can become very disabling”. In his opinion, it's more appropriate to talk about vacation stress or melancholy.
For the psychologist, these symptoms are generally accompanied by a lack of motivation and sadness. This state usually lasts two to three days, but some people suffer from it for up to 21 days, until they adapt to their new reality. “When the discomfort persists over time, it can generate anxiety disorders or depression,” he points out.
Summary
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