How do you prevent the post-holiday blues? 5 golden tips

Not so long ago, you felt the excitement of your impending vacation, while you were still busy with the latest office obligations. And now it's over again. As you trudge to the espresso machine, you dream away of that relaxing time in that Italian country house with swimming pool, of lazy days at the lake or of your adventures at the Italian campsite. We all know that that gloomy post-holiday blues gets to us quickly. Find out here how you can prevent or avoid this dip.

1. Understanding and avoiding the dip

Everyone is familiar with the 'after-holiday dip', that unpleasant period after a holiday in which you return to the daily grind and long for the holiday. Research shows that a whopping 60% of people suffer from this. The thought of returning to work in particular makes us gloomy.

Happy moments are driven by hormones such as dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. They send positive feelings through our body. Although holidays allow us to experience these happiness chemicals, they can become out of balance after the holidays, which promotes the post-holiday slump. Stress plays an important role in this. How can you restore this balance and prevent the dip?

Proper preparation is the key to returning smoothly after a vacation. It's not much use if you've already returned, but remember it for next time.

Make sure you complete tasks in advance and properly inform your colleagues about your absence. Starting your preparation 3 weeks before departure, handing over to colleagues 2 weeks before departure and completing your work 1 week before departure will help you be one step ahead on your return. Good preparation makes the difference between a smooth return to work and a stressful return.

2. Start smart after your holiday

The way you start after your holiday is just as important as your preparations for it. Here are some steps to make your startup smooth and stress-free:

1. Little by little: give yourself a day or 2 after your vacation to get back into work mode. Don't dive straight into your mailbox, but use the first day to evaluate your priorities and talk to colleagues about what happened while you were away. This will help you catch up faster and make your mailbox less overwhelming. Some things from your inbox are no longer 'on fire' for a long time.
2. Follow up projects: talk to colleagues who have taken over your work and discuss the progress of projects. This gives you insight into where you need to step in and where you can delegate.
3. Start with the easy tasks: Normally you have to take the bull by the horns and focus on the difficult tasks first, but not when you've just returned from holiday. Do some easy tasks first to get into the rhythm.
4. Email strategy: don't immediately attack your inbox. Take the time to review all emails and organize them into relevant categories before you start replying. This prevents a chaotic and stressed approach.

3. Use this moment of reflection

During the period of your holiday you create a temporary distance from your professional duties. After your return, you often look at these tasks with fresh eyes.

Think of it as a fresh start. The holiday period offers an excellent opportunity to look back on your work. What is going well, what can be improved and what changes do you aspire to? Countless valuable ideas can also arise during your relaxation. Capture these ideas and actively put them into action once your vacation is over.

If the prospect of returning to work feels (very) unpleasant, this could be an indication that the time has come to consider changing jobs.

It is valuable to ask yourself what exactly is the source of this feeling. Is this caused by your colleagues? Is the cause attributable to your employer? Or are there specific tasks that you approach with significant resistance?

It's worth identifying the bottlenecks that hinder the joy in your work. Are you unsure whether your current job is still suitable or are you unsure about the direction of your professional career? Talk to a career coach who can help you gain deeper insights. So that you can take the step towards change yourself.

4. Keep the holiday feeling alive with creative memories

Memories from your vacation can have a positive impact on your mood and general well-being. Process your holiday memories in a creative way to retain that holiday feeling longer:

1. Photo books and compilations: use photos and videos you have taken to create a tangible memory. You can have one make photo book and have it printed, put together a digital compilation or simply share some highlights on social media.
2. Daily Holiday Reminder: set a vacation photo as your desktop wallpaper or place a framed photo in your workplace. This way you will continue to be reminded of those relaxing times every day.
3. Souvenirs: do something with the souvenirs you brought with you. Make a work of art from stones or shells or hang a work of art in a beautiful frame. You can also take a souvenir to work with you, if that helps!

5. Continue the holiday feeling at home

The transition from vacation to daily routine can be difficult, but you can consciously schedule time to enjoy things you missed during your vacation. Even if you haven't planned a holiday (in Italy) this year, you can still enjoy a holiday feeling.

1. Appreciate home: think of the things you missed during your holiday, such as spending time with family and friends, your own bed, bathroom or garden or enjoying certain (Italian) delicacies. This way you change your perspective on being at home.
2. Start something new: look for it in a new hobby, sport or get started in the house or garden. We would like to give you some tips for your home for the fall into an Italian atmosphere.
3. Incorporate vacation into your daily routine: If you enjoyed being outside during your vacation, you can try eating lunch outside more often or going for walks during your break. If reading books helped you relax, it's a good idea to regularly take time out of your daily schedule to fit in some reading time. This is how you make the rat races a little more relaxed.
4. Plan ahead: look ahead and plan your next outing or holiday. The prospect of another trip can help keep your mood positive and focused on future adventures.
5. Tourist in your own country: explore your own environment as if you were a tourist. Book an overnight stay in a local hotel, visit new places and enjoy the pleasures of a nice city in the Netherlands, Belgium or Germany.
6. Digital detox: turn off your work phone and email completely for a few days. Experience the freedom of having no obligations and give yourself a well-deserved break.
7. Connect (re)connect with friends and family: If your vacation has left you with a desire for more meaning in your life, reach out to the people who matter to you. Connection is an integral part of our lives, and holidays are often a time of deep connection with those we visit or those we travel with.

What are your strategies that best help you deal with the transition from relaxation to daily routine and avoid the post-holiday slump? We'd love to hear how you stay fresh and energized while you get back to work!