How to overcome post-holiday depression

Post-holiday depression is a situation that causes depressive feelings to arise, such as sadness, unwillingness to work or excessive tiredness, right after returning from a vacation or as soon as work or work-related tasks begin again. the school.

This type of symptoms is more common in people who were no longer satisfied with their work before going on vacation, which ends up making it difficult to adapt to returning to work.

Although most people may experience a slight feeling of sadness by the end of the vacation, it does not mean that they have depression, as cases of depression are more severe, even affecting productivity.

Main symptoms

Some of the symptoms of post-holiday depression can be:

• Muscle pain; Headache; Insomnia; Tiredness; Discouragement; Anguish; Anxiety; Guilt; Anger.

These symptoms can appear in the first two weeks of work, without being considered a depression, since the person needs to adapt to the routine of tasks and concerns again.

What to do

There are some measures that can help you avoid post-holiday depression:

1. Divide the vacation into 3 periods

One way to control the displeasure caused by the end of the vacation, the person can choose to divide the days he has available in 3 periods and if possible to return from the trip a few days before the end of the vacation, for example, so that he adapts slowly.

Dividing the vacation into several periods also allows the person to start thinking about the next vacation and feel some enthusiasm.

2. Start a new activity

Starting or practicing an activity that you like is also a great way to get back to your daily routine more willingly. In addition, some activities such as going to the gym, playing a sport or dancing, for example, keep the person distracted and with goals.

3. Socializing with friends

The day-to-day life can be as pleasant as the moments when you are on vacation, if other activities are done that make the person happy, such as being with friends and family and planning with them a walk, a dinner or a trip to the cinema, for example.

4. Practice gratitude

Practicing gratitude can cause feelings of happiness and pleasure, simply by daily thanking the good things that happened during the day, which most of the time go unnoticed.

This daily practice leads to the release of hormones responsible for the immediate feeling of well-being, because there is an activation of the brain known as the reward system, also decreasing negative thoughts. Learn how to practice and what the benefits are.

5. Plan a weekend tour

Another tip to gain some cheer after returning from vacation, is to plan a walk around the city or spend a weekend away, in a different destination from the usual and quiet, like the beach or the countryside, for example.

6. Review travel memories

Reviewing the videos and photos that were taken during the holidays, remembering some of the best moments spent there, or creating an album with photos and souvenirs of the local currency, museum tickets, shows or transportation is a good way to spend time and increase the mood.

7. Change jobs

If what is causing these feelings is the return to work and not the end of the vacation, the best thing to do is to start looking for a new job.

If some time has passed and, even with these tips, there is no improvement in the way the person feels, he should consult a doctor or a psychologist.

Benefits of taking a vacation regularly

Taking a vacation improves health because a continuous period of rest away from the routine of everyday life reduces stress, improving the quality of life on the way back to work, especially in people suffering from heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, anxiety, depression, burnout syndrome or nervous colitis, for example.

Despite being an excellent time to rest and renew your strength, returning from vacation can be a critical phase because of reentering routine and meeting schedules. To prevent this malaise, the last day of vacation should be used to reset the biological clock.