Returning to work after the Holidays can be a psychological challenge. Accustomed to holidays and rest, most people find it difficult to readjust to office tasks, stressful deadlines or meetings. Consequences? Anxiety, decreased motivation and difficulty concentrating occur. It’s not a fad, but a real emotional and psychological transition. The phenomenon is common enough that it has been given a name in the literature: post-holiday syndrome.
How the post-holiday syndrome manifests itself
Returning to the office after days off or vacation isn’t just a schedule change, it’s a major mental transition. A series of processes takes place in our brain with the change in the daily rhythm. Psychotherapist Jeni Chiriac explains:
“This transition activates an adaptive stress determined by the contrast between the autonomy, flexibility and positive stimuli specific to the vacation and the rigid, predictable and demanding structure of the work environment. On a psychological level, irritability, anticipatory anxiety, decreased motivation, difficulty concentrating and a generalized emotional malaise may occur. From a neurobiological perspective, the phenomenon is correlated with a transient decrease in the activation of the dopaminergic system and an increase in the level of cortisol, which explains the feeling of mental fatigue and the lack of meaning felt by many employees in the first days after returning. Although not a clinical condition, post-holiday syndrome affects a significant percentage of the working population.”
Why it is not good to “enter the force” from the first days
How we return to work in the first few days after leave can significantly influence stress levels and short-term efficiency. Although the temptation is to recover quickly, experts recommend a different approach.
“Research in organizational psychology shows that a gradual return is significantly more effective than a sudden resumption of complex tasks”says Jeni Chiariac.
This also comes with concrete readjustment strategies:
“Measures such as introducing a “buffer” period between vacation and the first day of work, avoiding major decisions in the first 48-72 hours, prioritizing essential tasks and fragmenting the workload are recommended.”
And small daily rituals can help:
“Regular breaks, clear delimitation of working hours and social reconnection with the team contribute to reducing stress and restoring a sense of control over professional activity.”
Does it matter how much we love what we do?
“Most people feel a slight emotional difficulty at the end of a period of freedom, regardless of the degree of professional satisfaction. However, research shows that people who perceive their work as meaningful, who benefit from autonomy and functional professional relationships, readjust more quickly”says the psychotherapist.
For employees who don’t like what they do, things are different:
“The vacation acts as a temporary suspension of stress, and the return brings to the fore already existing frustrations and dissatisfactions.”
When discomfort indicates deeper problems
Moreover, in some situations, discomfort may indicate deeper problems than post-vacation adjustment.
“A strong resistance to returning to work can signal the onset of burnout, the onset of anxiety or depression disorders, or the existence of a toxic work environment. Factors such as chronic overwork, lack of autonomy, interpersonal conflicts or the absence of professional recognition can significantly amplify the difficulty of readjustment”attracts Jeni Chiriac’s attention.
What is there to do? The first step is to listen to our psychological signals and not diminish their importance.
“In these cases, the psychological reaction functions as an indicator of an unbalanced relationship between the individual and his professional environment. Thus, the psychological reaction should not be interpreted as an individual weakness, but as an alarm signal regarding the quality of the relationship between the individual and his professional environment, which requires reevaluation and, sometimes, specialized intervention”emphasizes the psychotherapist.
Work-life balance, a necessity, not a luxury
Returning to work can also make us ask ourselves questions about the balance in our lives: how much space do we give to work and how much to our loved ones and passions? Jeni Chiriac talks about boundaries that need to be established.
“Specialists emphasize the importance of establishing clear boundaries between the two spheres, both temporally and mentally. This entails compliance with work hours, reduced permanent digital availability and the ability to psychologically detach after the program is over. Constant investment in personal relationships, hobbies, and recreational activities play a critical role in preventing burnout. In the absence of these boundaries, work tends to overextend, affecting mental health and quality of life.”
What matters most to employees in Romania
A study carried out by a Human Resources company in 2024, on the Romanian market, confirms the importance of personal life – professional life balance. This aspect leads the list of the most important factors in the workplace, along with salary, with 96% percent. In second place is job security (93%), and in third place is mental health support (88%). Vacation days, medical benefits and schedule flexibility also rank high.
