Dreading your first day back to work after your holiday? According to a recent survey, more than half of us feel depressed, deflated or demotivated when they return to work.
Many of us come back to work after a relaxing break, with a backlog of emails, phone calls to return, work to catch up on and priorities to juggle. Post-holiday blues can set in, making us feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed, and as though we need another holiday.
Professor Ewan Gillon of First Psychology Dundee has some good tips to help.
“Instead of viewing your return to work as something negative, use it as a time to reflect on the break you had and time spent with friends and family,” he advises.
“Try to recreate your holiday behaviour at work – we’re creatures of habit and you will have had a certain routine during your time off work and these little moments are what we remember about our holidays,” he continues.
“There are simple things you can do to make your work day more interesting, such as going for a walk at lunchtime, reading a book, eating lunch in a different place or connecting with different colleagues.”
We can often end up feeling as though we have nothing to look forward to, with the next summer holidays a whole year away. Plan small treats to help you feel as though you are working towards a goal. This could be anything from a short city break to going out for a meal with family and friends.
Follow a healthy routine by exercising and eating a balanced diet. This can help you feel happier, as well as helping you lose ‘holiday weight’, get fitter and socialise.
Often when we go back to work and try to catch up on our work, we can end up doing too much which can leave us feeling overwhelmed.
“Take time on your return to work to create a realistic to-do list – prioritise important tasks and accept that you can’t do everything at once,” Prof Gillon advises.
“If you feel under pressure, reminisce about the happy memories you have from your holiday. Before long the holiday blues will have passed.”
Beat the blues: keep that holiday mood
Unpack as soon as possible and put your holiday clothes away.
Plan your next holiday to reduce feelings of sadness about the holiday you’ve just had.
Show your holiday photos to friends and family to see and relive the happy memories.
Spend time outdoors to boost your mood with the Vitamin D in sunlight – why not walk to work or eat your lunch outside?
Exercise whilst on holiday – this can help reduce fatigue when you return home.
