Contents
Post-vacation syndrome, is it a myth or a reality?
Psychology
The psychologist Jesús Matos reveals that experiencing unpleasant emotions is part of life. The key is to learn to manage them
PM2:24It has been a hard year, the pandemic, the quarantine, the confinement … For months we have dreamed of the long-awaited vacation. But when they finish, September arrives and the return to our routine becomes difficult.
Surely you have heard many times about the post-vacation syndrome, characterized by a series of emotional symptoms such as being sadder, more irascible, anxious, having sleep problems or appetite among others. But the reality is that it is not a disorderIt is just our body trying to adapt to the new routine.
The problem is that we have developed a tendency to pathologize everything that is not pleasant. But we have to keep in mind that experiencing unpleasant emotions is part of life and it is also something very healthy. The key will be learning to manage them effectively.
What happens is that there is an almost direct relationship between the number of pleasant activities we do in our day to day and our state of mind. That is why, when we become a vacation, we generally leave behind a lot of time that we used to dedicate to leisure to return to our obligations.
The most normal thing is that the emotions of sadness, anxiety o go to, disappear within a few days of returning, so, in the vast majority of cases, it is not something we should worry about.
How to combat the alleged syndrome
To help our body and emotional system adjust to the new routine, it is a good idea to try to take time to schedule enjoyable activities. That is, to those leisure activities that manage to awaken in us pleasant emotions. In this way, the impact on the mood will be less.
In general, the leisure, the physical exercise and social contact they have a positive impact on our mood. So it’s a good idea to make time for these activities every day. Not only to offset the impact of the change in routine, but to be a little bit happier every day.
About the author: Jesús Matos Larrinaga is a psychologist and author of the books «A course on emotions», «Good morning, joy». He also runs the web on the practical application of scientific psychology “In Balance of Mind.”