Could it be more difficult to return to the routine and worsen the post-vacation syndrome that appears every year after the summer break? According to experts: yes. But … there is always a but … As the years go by, and the science advances, it is scandalous! We have more and more information to avoid the pernicious effects of this disturbing process which is influenced by the change of routine but also by the quality of the working environment.
Can this widespread syndrome be prevented? “Yes, there are some guidelines that can be very appropriate for getting back to work normally and some are very simple,” says Alma Fernández, medical director of Digital Health at Mapfre.
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This expert adds that “Only if these changes are perpetuated beyond ten or fifteen days would we speak of generalized anxiety syndrome or chronic stress, which can occur with a specific clinic and which may require the attention of a specialist.” “But the reality,” he adds, “is that very few cases of what is known as ‘post-vacation stress’ require a professional approach.”
Sadness is a symptom that sometimes accompanies post-vacation syndrome
Symptoms
Post-vacation syndrome, without a rounded definition by the medical community at large, is defined as the low, negative, worrying mood that many people experience when returning from vacation. Those affected go through a period of nervousness, restlessness, discomfort, sadness and fatigue which can generate prominent anxiety.
Not in vain, throughout this summer 2022, anxiety disorders proved to be the most consulted pathology according to the specialized portal Doctoralia.
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This ascending line, in an increase also indicated by the World Health Organization, indicates that mental health problems also mark the summer season.
The clash between the summer break and the return to work routine can have a major impact on some people. According to María Consuelo Vilasánchez, psychologist and Doctoralia member, “an individual has good mental health when he is able to manage his emotions and those related to an environment, that is, when he feels he can manage his life in general”.
A set of emotional and behavioral symptoms
Ignacio Fernández Arias, chief of psychologists at the University Clinic of Psychology of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), states that “although it is not characterized in diagnostic manuals, the scientific community agrees in describing the post-vacation syndrome as a set of emotions and behavioral symptoms that arise after returning to work ”.
The mental health group of the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine estimates that 15% of adults and between 5% and 8% of children suffer from episodes of this mental state.
According to the insurer Mapfre, recent studies indicate that post-holiday stress is more common in young people under 45 and in those with less resilient profiles and a greater tendency to frustration. Even in people who work in environments where working conditions are not adequate, they are not satisfied with their work or feel undervalued in it.
From the Complutense University, as stated through the Results Transfer and Research Office, Cristina Larroy, director of the University Psychology Clinic, indicates that working conditions play a very important role in adapting to the post-vacation routine. These include irregular hours, poor work environment or high responsibilities. Enemies of the newly established are also the consideration of receiving an unfair remuneration or the feeling of lack of personal fulfillment.
Trying to distribute the workloads after the holidays helps to overcome the trance
How to make the return more bearable
Given this landscape of returning to the daily and work routine that we face after the holidays, experts recommend following a few simple guidelines that can make adaptation more bearable.
Among these, some must be carried out in the previous days, such as the gradual recovery of schedules and sleep habits, so that the change is not so radical; if possible, do not return the day before going to work and gradually return to our habits and schedules … And others, once back to work: keep a more relaxed pace at the beginning of the cycle, plan agendas for the first few weeks and prioritize activities.
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The return to the usual exercise and diet routine is also very important, if it was abandoned during the holidays, in which imbalances in this type of habits are frequent.
Dr. Vilasánchez advises to face the return to the routine after the summer “with maximum normality, with the usual habits, eating properly and healthily, trying to rest well, exercising every day and avoiding the consumption of alcohol or drugs. “.
Among the tips for overcoming the negative effects of post-vacation syndrome, experts recommend starting work little by little. You have to plan breaks, respect meal times and have them accompany and sleep. Organizing free time after work is also very useful. Sports or inactive weekends should be seen as a reward for the weekly effort
Alma Fernández for her part emphasizes that “empathy with those who have not had a vacation or do not have a job to join can also help us to face the return in a more positive way and therefore to better live this moment from the point of view of emotion. “.
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