The holiday season is the best time of the year but it can be an emotional rollercoaster for some of us.
Post-holiday depression, holiday blues or depression after vacation, there are some countless terms used to describe the feeling of sadness and hopelessness after a vacation is over.
Holiday blues can come to anyone, however, it is more likely to strike someone who is already dealing with depression and anxiety.
It can arise due to several reasons. Perhaps your festive season was not great enough or celebratory as expected. It can also arise if your expectations were not met or simply because your plans fell apart.
It is important to remember that you are not alone with these feelings. You can always share how you feel with your loved ones or get help from professionals like a GP at any time.
But in snapping yourself out of holiday blues, being able to recognise your symptoms is the first major thing to do. Here are some major signs and symptoms of holiday blues.
Signs and symptoms of holiday blues
- The feeling of boredom and hopelessness in normal lifestyle routine
- A strong feeling of nostalgia
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Jet lag that can intensify depression
- Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Eating more or less than usual
- Difficulty to concentrate at work
The Good News - holiday blues are usually short-lived
The good thing is, holiday blues or post-holiday depression is a short-lived mental condition.
It usually wears off over time. It can take a few days to up to a few weeks to recover from it. But in some cases, it can last longer and can lead to more severe mental health conditions.
There are ways to quickly recover and get along with our usual life. For example, some might find comfort by reliving their holidays such as if one enjoyed kayaking during their holidays, they might pursue kayaking as a future hobby.
Tips to beat holiday blues
1) Share your holiday experience with friends and family
Look for all the amazing pictures and videos you took from your holiday and share them with your friends and family. Share your experiences and relive those memories. This is a great way to stay positive and help yourself transition back to your normal life.
2) Keep yourself busy
The most important thing to do while recovering from your post-holiday blues is to remain busy, perhaps even busier than normal. While on a vacation, we keep juggling between multiple activities, so our life seems more engaging.
However, when we’re back to business as usual, it can feel like everything stops. So, keep yourself busy, you can hit the gym, pick up a book you wanted to read or do some extra studying.
3) Plan on the next big thing in your life
Start focusing on something that will contribute to your life or career. You can think of a motto or a goal that you would like to achieve in this new year.
For example, if you wanted to learn a new language, this is a great time of the year to start with some basic online tutorials.
4) There’s no harm on planning for the next trip
Whenever we return from a trip, everyone knows how it feels to be back home. We long to return back to those beautiful and relaxed days.
This feeling of glumness is due to the point of friction that needs an adjustment phase to shift yourself from an amazing vacation back to our usual life.
But, here’s the thing – there is no harm in planning for the next one!
Plan your next vacation but remain flexible and be open to the fact that current times are unpredictable, considering we are still living during a global pandemic.
5) Get more active and sleep well
Get active and sweat more. You will be surprised to find how going for a run or playing your favourite sport can help you keep a happy mood and snap out of your post holiday blues.
Try going to bed as early as possible and maintain the same routine. Preparing your bed before sleeping, reading a book and keeping yourself away from the TV can help you sleep better.
Start your mental wellbeing with Solitaire Medical Group
At Solitaire Medical Group, we offer comprehensive health care for people of all ages. Our doctors have a special interest in mental health with the emphasis of treating and preventing illnesses to promote mental wellbeing.
If you would like to consult any of our doctors, book for appointment at your preferred location.