Back to Work: Beating the Post-Holiday Blues

The summer holidays are over, the children are back at school, and the mornings already feel cooler. September can bring with it a sense of “back to reality” as the long days, lighter evenings and slower pace of summer seem to disappear all too quickly, and it’s easy to feel that your holiday is already a distant memory. I know I’ve felt like that this week!

There are, however, things that you can do to ease the “post-holiday blues”. Here are some ideas to help.

1. Give yourself time to adjust

If you’ve been away, recognise that it’s normal to feel a bit flat when you come back and so try and give yourself some time to get back into the swing of things. That could mean giving yourself an extra day off before returning to work but if this isn’t an option, then give yourself permission to ease back in e.g. allow time to catch up on the inevitable deluge of emails received in your absence, minimise the number of meetings in the first few days back and resist the urge to stay late to “catch up”.

2. Incorporate aspects of your holiday into your everyday life

One way to bridge the gap between holiday and everyday life is to think about what you enjoyed most over the summer:

• Was it being outside more? Make the most of autumn walks, crisp mornings, or even just time in the garden.

• Did you try new foods? Recreate those dishes at home - check out Good Food for inspiration.

• Did you feel better for being less glued to your phone or the TV? Keep that habit going by only watching those programmes that really capture your imagination and limit the use of social media (which in turn could make more time for the activities referred to above).

  
  

Technology makes it very easy to “capture” memories and so make time to look back at the photos and videos you took to remind yourself of the good times that you had.  

3. Take regular breaks

It’s tempting to save up all your annual leave for the summer, but short breaks throughout the year can make a big difference. A long weekend in October or a few days off around Christmas can help punctuate the months ahead.

It may not be possible to have a daily siesta (!) but you can try and have some time to recharge. Step away from your desk at lunchtime, get some fresh air, or take a proper tea/coffee break (other drinks are available).

4. Reflect and take stock

Occasionally, the “post-holiday blues” may be more than just a passing phase and could be a reflection of a difficulty in your life, whether at home or work.   Allow yourself some time before making any life-changing decisions, but do take the opportunity to consider whether there are any aspects of your life that could be improved e.g. maybe it is time to look for a new job.

 Use September as a natural point to pause and reflect. Ask yourself:

• What went well over the summer that I’d like more of?

• What felt draining that I’d like less of?

• Is there one small change I could make this autumn that would help me feel better?

5. Plan something to look forward to

Having something in the diary can make the weeks ahead feel more manageable. This could be meeting up with friends, going to a concert, or having a weekend away; but if all else fails then you could try planning your next holiday!

Take the next step

Feeling the post-summer slump is completely normal, but small changes can make a big difference. Try out some of these tips, and see which ones help you ease back into your routine. If you’d like more practical strategies for managing stress and maintaining your wellbeing through the year, get in touch to find out more about how I can help.