Vacations are a symbol of freedom, rest, relaxation and fun, which can generate a strong contrast and demotivation with the return to our habits. I discovered the keys to facing obligations calmly and without stress.
The vacation They are something essential in our lives, they help us disconnect, project and plan trips, programs and activities, and take a break from the fast routine that often wears us down. When having to return to our day after a break, it is very common to experience the post-vacation depression.
Also known as post-vacation syndromethis state is characterized by negative emotions such as anxiety, homesickness, sadness and excessive stress, which can alter our states when resuming activities and work and personal ties.
It’s a emotional state quite frequent and common in people, and although it is not a recognized clinical disorder, it is a phenomenon that is found in the study center and the attention from 1950as explained Harvard Business Review.
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Why does it cost us so much to get back to our routine?
The vacation involve a period of time whereand we break with the structureschedules and obligations of our daily lives, to immerse ourselves in a kind of tranquillity and relaxation to enjoy what is good for us: going on vacation, being quiet in our homes, doing recreational activities and so on.
This disconnection can function as a catalyst to identify the sources of stress of work or personal life, which until now were normalized or minimized. The key lies in contrast that occurs from that accelerated pace, against the state of freedom and peace of the holidays themselves.
The post-vacation depression presents certain symptoms: irritability, anxiety, difficulty sleeping or resting, persistent feeling of discomfort, lack of motivation, among others. In some extreme cases, it may also happen that people tend to get depressedpresent a feeling of emptiness and lose enthusiasm to carry out your daily activities again.
Tools and keys to deal with post-vacation depression
Harvard Business Review maintains that something that aggravates this situation, and that is when people they work either they develop their life in negative environmentsstressful and demanding. These situations can trigger a “anticipatory anxiety“by imagining and creating scenarios about possible confrontations in those environments. Some fundamental strategies To deal with post-vacation depression are:
- Rest period in transition: When returning from vacation, leave one or two days before resuming regular activities so you can rest, organize, and adapt to your environment again.
- Plan activities: organize a list of plans and outings with friends, family or yourself, to keep your head motivated.
- Tackle one thing at a time: many times the return is overwhelming and exhausting, a pile of things awaits us and it seems as if there is not enough time. In these cases, it is essential to be able to resume tasks little by little, starting with the simplest and most manageable, and then increasing the complexity.
- Meditation and mindfulness: These practices, such as conscious breathing and attention to the present, can help reduce anxiety and stress by relieving bodily and mental tensions.
- Creativity to remember: Maintaining an active space to capture what happened to us on vacation is essential and very therapeutic. From keeping a travel diary, capturing images, making vlogs, or whatever you prefer, being able to collect the moments and then connect with them emotionally is the key to later well-being.
Ayelet Fishbachprofessor at the University of Chicago and participant in the Harvard Business Review, maintains that a common error is to interpret that the job and the vacation are two opposite aspects of lifea conflict that can cause frustration, guilt, and personal discouragement. Being able to understand that they work as one and that work is not only a salary, but also a space to enjoy and doing what we like, helps build a healthier relationship and positive with our obligations.
Source: Ambito
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