What is post-vacation depression?
2025-Jan-08 07:15
After enjoying a long holiday break with family and friends, it feels so abrupt to drop everything and go back to everyday life.
If going back to work or school gives you the blues, you may just be experiencing something called post-vacation depression.
Post-vacation depression is considered as the negative feeling you get after coming home from a fun-filled vacation.
Understanding Post-Vacation Sadness
This dreaded post-vacation sadness also goes by several names including post-vacation syndrome, post-holiday blues, or holiday syndrome. While it is not a clinically recognized condition, references to this phenomenon date back to the 1950s, highlighting its long-standing relevance.
This dreaded post-vacation sadness also goes by several names including post-vacation syndrome, post-holiday blues, or holiday syndrome. While it is not a clinically recognized condition, references to this phenomenon date back to the 1950s, highlighting its long-standing relevance.
Symptoms of this "back-to-reality" dilemma include increased irritability, nostalgia, pessimism, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and a general feeling of unease.
These feelings typically last up to two weeks post-vacation, though the duration may vary.
Tips to Counteract the Blues
Some tips how to counteract post-vacation blues include:
Return to a Clean Home
At some point, we've all been guilty of leaving our home in a state of calamity right before a trip. Nothing says stress more than going back to a cluttered home. So before taking your much-needed vacation, make sure your place is clean and your bed is tidy.
At some point, we've all been guilty of leaving our home in a state of calamity right before a trip. Nothing says stress more than going back to a cluttered home. So before taking your much-needed vacation, make sure your place is clean and your bed is tidy.
Prepare Your In-Between Rest
Don't rush! Give yourself time to reset your mind and body before clocking back into work or school. Take a little day off in between coming back home and going back to your everyday routine.
Don't rush! Give yourself time to reset your mind and body before clocking back into work or school. Take a little day off in between coming back home and going back to your everyday routine.
Plan an Affordable Activity
To keep the happy pill going, schedule a little activity to look forward to after your trip. It doesn't have to be expensive – just something fun like dining out, a coffee catch-up with friends, or a quick trip to the spa.
To keep the happy pill going, schedule a little activity to look forward to after your trip. It doesn't have to be expensive – just something fun like dining out, a coffee catch-up with friends, or a quick trip to the spa.
We all crave a sense of adventure in life, and when that adventure draws to a close, it's only normal to feel a sense of sadness. Don't let the post-vacation blues kill all the fun you accumulated just days ago – just plan a new one instead!