How are you coping with getting back to routine? You’ve probably heard of post-holiday syndrome.
What is it?
Post-holiday syndrome is much more common than we might imagine. Generally, we associate this problem with the end of summer vacations, where you have to survive getting back to routine, but the truth is that it’s just as, if not more, frequent during this time of year. Here, we want to tell you why it happens and give you some tips to alleviate it.
Defining Elements
The Christmas holidays are marked in red on anyone’s calendar, whether we like them more or less. This is mainly because they are associated, on the one hand, with vacations and, on the other, with reuniting with people we don’t see regularly. When it’s time to return to routine, this generates a very significant feeling of nostalgia.
This nostalgia is especially intense for those who, for work reasons, live far from their families. Generally, they eagerly await the arrival of the Christmas holidays as they are synonymous with reuniting with loved ones. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners, New Year’s parties, Three Kings’ Day… All are events where we enjoy special moments with family and friends.
To this, we must add that January and February are the coldest months and the days are especially short. All of this makes you less inclined to go out and make plans, which accentuates the feeling of nostalgia. It is necessary to give yourself time and be consistent to overcome post-holiday syndrome.
Tips to Overcome It
Firstly, positivity is a key element to overcome the symptoms of post-holiday syndrome. Furthermore, it must be applied both personally and professionally. It is also important to take the weeks after any holiday period as the perfect time to set new goals and challenges for yourself. Start exercising, quit smoking, follow a healthier diet… but do it seriously. Not carrying them out can only lead to a worsening of the problem.
It is also advisable to start planning your next trip for your upcoming holidays. It doesn’t matter if it’s for Carnival, Easter, or your summer vacation. Likewise, set some savings goals. Your purpose should be to regain enthusiasm and face the first weeks after your vacation with energy.
In short, after long months of waiting for the Christmas holidays, when they end, getting out of the rut that post-holiday syndrome entails can be very complicated. However, by following the described guidelines, better understanding the problem, and implementing the recommendations we have given you, we can have greater assurance that it will be much more manageable for you. It is true that January can be a complex month to face, but if you find reasons for enthusiasm, it will just be another moment in your life’s journey.
If you find the study of these behaviors interesting, you work in the field of Psychology and would like to delve deeper into the treatment of these and other syndromes, you can consult our master’s in Emotional Well-being Psychotherapy offered by ISEP