If at this time a week ago, everyone was busy preparing to welcome the new year and enjoy the long holiday; then from today, they must be mentally prepared to return to normal life, with work and tasks to do.
We think that a holiday will give us the feeling of rest to regain energy, but in reality, returning to the office after the holidays is never an easy thing. Regretting the time spent having fun, fearing the heavy workload after Tet, or still daydreaming about plans to have fun are some of the reasons why people have difficulty returning to their old routine. This situation is even called: "Post-Holiday Syndrome".
Post-holiday syndrome - Office workers' nightmare
“Post-holiday syndrome” refers to the emotional state of boredom and fatigue that occurs after the holiday period. If before and during the holiday, the happy hormone (dopamine) in our body increases, then when returning to the old rhythm, the amount of dopamine suddenly decreases, causing the body to take time to adapt initially. This is a natural reaction and almost everyone can experience it. The main manifestations of “post-holiday syndrome” often include a feeling of loss of energy, insomnia, irritability, difficulty concentrating and anxiety.
“Post-holiday syndrome” affects work performance
Usually, the “post-holiday syndrome” only lasts for a few days and disappears when our bodies and minds get used to the previous routine. However, in many cases, the adaptation process can take longer, up to a few weeks. If prolonged, this condition reduces productivity and even leads to more serious psychological problems.
How to get back to work easily?
Planning
A common mentality that many people encounter a few days before the holiday is to let themselves “relax”, also known as “disengagement”. When falling into this psychological state, people are dominated by a feeling of excitement, leading to difficulty concentrating on work. Instead, they think of leaving work until after the holiday and then doing it all at once. However, this inadvertently causes the workload to pile up, making you even more stressed afterwards.
Plan your work before returning to the office.
To avoid this situation, you can take advantage of the time at the office near Tet, or spend the day before going to work to systematize your work, arrange it in order of priority. This way, when you return to work, you will not be stuck in a "mess" of messy tasks, not knowing where to start. Instead, a scientific and neat list is waiting for you, all you have to do is get started.
Linh Chi - currently working in an office in Hanoi, chose to take advantage of the Tet holidays to gradually handle simple tasks.
“The Tet holiday is long so I have a lot of free time, not too busy, so sometimes I try to do less work. Many people may think that this makes my rest time not complete, but personally I am comfortable with it. I choose simple tasks that do not take too much time to solve, which also helps me to be less busy when I return to the office after Tet holiday.” – Linh Chi shared.
Linh Chi spends part of her Tet holiday to handle simple tasks (Photo: NVCC)
Create an inspiring work environment
Not only work, cleaning the desk clean and tidy is an effective way to help you feel more inspired to return to work. No one wants to start the first day of the year in a messy space, full of papers. Therefore, if you have not had time to organize before Tet, take a little time to "touch up" the desk on the first day of work as a gentle way to start the day effectively.
If possible, buy some decorations, or add some greenery to your desk. This will bring a fresh, more cheerful feeling and thus help you get into the flow of work more easily.
Take a break at work
Nothing makes people more tired than the first day back to the office after a vacation and having to “swim” in a sea of work. The more stressed, the lower the efficiency of work and the more days of low morale.
Socializing with colleagues on the first day of spring.
So, if you don’t have any urgent work to do, start with light tasks and take short breaks to relax with your colleagues. Talking about your vacation, having a snack or making a cup of good coffee can make your workday go more smoothly. In the following days, you can gradually increase the workload to solve the remaining tasks. This is also the way you train your mind to get used to the old working rhythm.
Thuy Linh, an office worker in Hanoi, shared: “Almost every year, the first day after the holiday is the day when everyone comes to socialize, wish each other a Happy New Year and chat with each other. The work is easy and simple, so I feel less pressured.”
Physical and mental care
During Tet, many young people allow themselves to be more relaxed in their schedules, such as staying up later, waking up later, and having more flexible mealtimes. However, when the holiday ends, you need to gradually adjust your habits to return to your old routine if you don't want to drain your energy.
Good sleep gives you more energy.
A good and deep sleep is essential for you to stay alert and focused for the working day. Going to bed early and relaxing gently before going to bed will improve the quality of sleep, so that you wake up in a good mood and full of energy. Besides, rewarding yourself with a favorite breakfast at home, or having breakfast with colleagues together is also a way to start a happy and inspiring working day.
Returning to work after a long holiday is like waking up from a beautiful dream. You may miss the time off and have fun; but with a few tips, returning to the office will be easier, more fun, and more energized, ready for a productive new year.
