How to regain efficiency at work after long holidays: advice from a psychologist

Causes of the post-holiday blues

Many will be surprised and will not believe that returning to work after the holidays can be not only easy, but also pleasant and expected. It’s really possible. You just need to try to pay attention to how we prepare for the holidays, how we enter them and how we end them.

The moment for the development of the post-holiday blues arises in us even before the holidays – on New Year’s Eve, each of us joins the race to “finish everything before the end of December.” We try to complete all tasks at work, choose gifts, decorate an apartment, plan a menu for a festive table. All these are chores and experiences of varying degrees of pleasantness. In psychological terms, stress and workload. Even if you have already matured and do not believe in Santa Claus, then the pre-holiday race, as it were, by itself forms certain expectations from the weekend. Such expectations do not lighten the load.

And that very day, the chimes strike – New Year! Then the weekend passes day by day and brings us closer to the moment when it’s time to return to work. Looking back at how the holidays went, one can draw one of two conclusions, or both at the same time. And both are highly likely to bring you apathy and sadness:

• expectations from the holidays were not justified – this means that the holidays were in vain;

• all the most interesting things happen only on holidays or on vacation, and everyday life is, by definition, gray and filled with routine.

It is important to understand what can be done in order not to come to such conclusions. It is better to control the load before the holidays, to understand how expectations affect the final impressions.

So what can you do for yourself to make it easier to return to a working rhythm?

Ways to deal with blues 

• First and, probably, most importantly, remember that we often enter the holidays with a minimum amount of energy. Loud festivities and a stream of impressions during the holidays are a continuation of work for the body. It is important to plan a real rest for yourself and your body. If all these days you have been running from one feast to another and after you were overtaken by the blues, then you need to help yourself recover.

  What activity gives you energy? Time spent outdoors, such as a walk in the park, will affect your well-being (both physically and mentally) much better than lack of sleep and overeating. No wonder nature and sleep are considered the best resource for recovery.

• Another source for recuperation is communication with loved ones. Eco-friendly contacts that benefit both parties make us feel important and happy. The mood after such meetings always improves.

  There is no universal advice on how to overcome the blues after a long weekend, but each person can look inside himself and listen to his own feelings, ask himself: «What makes me happy on weekdays, what can I not do on holidays?» Based on your preferences, try to find a simple and practical meaning in each of the days. After all, during the holidays you probably interrupt some long-term projects and pause the implementation of your plans. Also, attention to yourself and your needs will help you navigate the moment. And here, probably, a natural immersion in new impressions will begin.

• A super-efficient and long-established way to restore energy can be … ordinary laziness. But being lazy is just so boring. Therefore, be lazy with benefit – make plans. Don’t create castles in the air and mega-projects, but make practical action lists to achieve any goals that are important to you. This will allow you to simultaneously re-energize your desires and shift your thinking from past holidays to the future and what you want from it.

In general, the blues can last 3-5 days. Do not rush to get out of this state as soon as possible, but try to live and accept it, then it will pass by itself. If you feel that depression is dragging on, then you should seek the advice of a specialist.

How to keep up

So that the post-vacation syndrome remains in the past or completely bypasses you, so that you feel the strength and desire to move on, you can pay attention to the following points.

1. Plan not only weekends, but also weekdays. Every day is a time of new opportunities. Try to pay attention to which of them open on weekdays. For example, from Monday to Friday, you can meet with colleagues, as well as resolve issues regarding a project whose success is really important to you. If there is no such project yet, you can try to think about it when you are lazy and recovering.

2. Watch the load. To avoid emotional burnout, it is important to strike a balance between work and leisure. Find what really helps you relax. This search can turn into a fascinating exploration of yourself and your preferences. Attention to yourself and maintaining balance will allow you to equally enjoy both work and leisure days.

3. Get enough sleep, eat well and eat regularly necessary for the body to be full of strength and energy. You are not being asked to change your whole life. But if sometimes you manage to create favorable conditions for your body – for a day, two, three – this can be useful for you as a whole.