Post-vacation syndrome, also known as the famous post-vacation depression, arises, as its name suggests, when the vacation period ends and it is time to return to work and adapt to the work routine, schedules, and lack of free time and quality time.
It is an adaptive disorder with symptoms similar to stress, due to a longer than usual absence from the work environment and responsibilities. Sometimes, this adaptation process can be difficult or distressing for the worker, affecting them both psychologically and physically.
Although there is some controversy surrounding this syndrome, experts agree that it is more common in employees with low job motivation and a negative view of their work and work environment.
Symptoms of post-vacation syndrome
These can vary in intensity and symptoms from one worker to another depending on their personality, responsibilities, and state of mind prior to the vacation period, with the most common being:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Apathy
- Lack of energy
- Decline
- General malaise
- Mood swings
- Low mood
- Palpitations or tachycardia
- Sweating
- Feeling of weariness
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Digestive discomfort
- Lack of concentration
- Demotivation
- Perception of being unable to adapt to the work environment again
These symptoms can last from a couple of days to two or three weeks without significantly affecting employees’ long-term health.
How to overcome it
To refocus as quickly as possible and return to our usual state of mind, we can follow a series of guidelines:
- Focus on the positive aspects of returning to the office routine
- Put aside negative thoughts about returning to work
- Find activities that motivate us outside of work or resume hobbies or activities that help us feel better
- Practice sports and find time for yourself
- Making plans helps us focus on new projects and dreams
- Leave work at the office
- Reconnect with coworkers
- Use breaks or lunchtime to disconnect
- Eat healthily, including lots of fruit
How to prevent post-vacation syndrome
- Don’t return the day before going back to work; go back a few days early to prepare for the return to routine and get organized in a more relaxed way
- Gradually adjust your schedule so that it’s not so hard to get up early again
- Take the return to responsibilities as calmly as possible, becoming aware of pending work and projects, catching up, and starting with the tasks that we find most enjoyable and pleasant
- Resume non-work activities that you enjoy as soon as possible, adapting them to your new routine
The workers most prone to suffering from this disorder tend to be those who enjoy longer vacations, have less resistance to frustration, do not enjoy a pleasant work environment, find no motivation in their work, feel undervalued or uninvolved in the company, and those with poor relationships with their colleagues and bosses. In addition, it is more common in women than in men, since, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute, women are more involved in childcare and housework, in addition to their jobs outside the home. It will also depend on the type of employee you are or those around you and, of course, on each person’s personality.
The most common thing is to experience fatigue and stress linked to returning to work, without any major repercussions.
But if there’s one thing we’re clear about at Frutality, it’s that we want to make your return to work more bearable and fill you with vitamins, because it’s also been proven that eating healthily helps to prevent this type of pathology and many others related to the work environment. Eating fresh fruit at the office will make you happier at any time of year.
