Avoid holiday blues: Tips for returning from vacation

After a dream vacation, returning to everyday life with all its challenges can quickly cause a bad mood. Learn how to prevent the holiday blues and keep the vacation feeling a little longer with practical tips. 

You just had a dream vacation. Only a few hours by plane away, you enjoyed the sunsets, the beautiful beach, and the great hotel. You had a lot of fun and are still intoxicated by the many impressions. Everything was relaxed. Everything was cool. But back home, everyday life quickly returns: it's raining, bills are in the mailbox, a pile of laundry is waiting to be ironed, your balcony flowers are dead, and your work email inbox is overflowing. Returning from vacation to everyday life can be a bit exhausting. But don't worry, it doesn't have to come to that. Learn how to prevent the holiday blues.

Post-vacation depression is not a clinically recognized illness but refers to the depressive state that people can experience after returning from vacation. Since the 1950s, terms like "post-holiday syndrome" or "holiday blues" have been circulating among psychologists in the USA. The symptoms make it difficult to get back into the normal routine, so even family and work life can suffer. These include anxiety, increased irritability, nostalgic feelings, difficulty sleeping, general discomfort or unease, and a persistent feeling of sadness.

Negative side effects of the holiday, such as sunburn, poor service, insect bites, or excessive food and alcohol consumption, may only become noticeable now and further dampen your mood.

 

However, there are some simple tips to prevent the holiday blues.

 

 

Take one or two days to adjust between returning from vacation and resuming work. You can use this time to slowly get used to everyday life and take care of urgent tasks without immediately switching back to full work mode.

Returning to a regular sleep rhythm is also important. On vacation, we often go to bed later and sleep longer. Back home, a regular sleep schedule helps you adjust to everyday life faster and feel better.

Plan enjoyable leisure or social activities. Arrange to meet friends for coffee or go to the movies. This way, you can preserve the positive feelings from your holiday a little longer and have something to look forward to.

Establish a positive routine so you can start work calmly. A well-planned daily schedule that also includes time for breaks and relaxation helps you minimize stress.

Regular physical activity is also helpful. Exercise releases endorphins and helps you feel fitter and more balanced. Whether it's a walk in the park, a jog, or a visit to the gym – find an activity you enjoy.

Last but not least, relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga can help you carry some of that holiday relaxation into everyday life. Just a few minutes a day can work wonders and help you handle stressful situations more calmly. Or, as one SoSUE customer once told us, she immediately plans her next vacation to distract herself from everyday life. With these tips, you can prevent the holiday blues and make the transition from vacation back to everyday life a little smoother. This way, the good mood from your holiday lasts a bit longer.

However, if the holiday blues persist for a long time or simply don't go away, don't hesitate to talk to a doctor or psychologist about it. Professional support can help you regain balance and feel good all around.