Ever felt this way… “Feeling relieved on Friday evening, then losing all joy by Monday morning”
This sentence sounds like a play on words, but those who have just returned from a long holiday often understand that this feeling really happens.
Feeling relieved during the break and then stressed again once work settles in after returning to work for a while. The transition period between holidays and workdays is when our mind is most confused. It’s like moving from one world to another without giving ourselves a chance to adjust. This condition is officially called “Post-Vacation Blues”.
“The mind is still at the beach, but the body is staggering into the office”
Many people think it’s just “laziness to work,” but actually, the symptoms are related to both the body and emotions trying to readjust the rhythm of life back to normal.
During holidays, we live life on our own terms. When the holiday ends, the brain has to quickly switch to a mode full of duties, expectations, and a stricter schedule. So it’s not surprising to feel down, as the mind is not ready to start anything, especially work.
There are many causes of this condition, each reflecting something straightforward in our daily lives.
- 1. Sudden change in life rhythm From waking up late and living slowly to a precise work schedule, the body responds with drowsiness, fatigue, or a foggy head without a clear cause.
- 2. Changes in neurotransmitters Holidays are filled with activities that make the brain release more happiness chemicals than usual. When the tangible happiness ends, hormone levels drop sharply, causing feelings of emptiness or lack of motivation.
- 3. Pressure from pending work Whether it’s unfinished tasks, meetings, or unanswered emails, all these act like shadows looming since the night before work starts, making many people want to postpone everything as far as possible.
- 4. Emotional comparison Holidays are the time when we are most ourselves. Returning to a system where we have to play various roles makes life feel like it shrinks a bit without us realizing it.
Another rarely discussed but very important point is that this condition might be telling you
“You are no longer as happy with your work as before.”
Some people may realize after a long holiday that they are not afraid to return to work but afraid of their own feelings when facing the same old system that drains their energy too much. Severe symptoms after holidays may be a sign that we are forcing ourselves or using energy on work that no longer fulfills us as it used to.
Common symptoms of this condition include
- Getting tired easily even after full sleep
- Feeling bored with work without knowing why
- Light or restless sleep
- Lack of enthusiasm or not wanting to talk to anyone
All of these are normal and usually improve within one to three days. However, if they persist for more than two weeks or interfere with your normal life, consulting a specialist doctor is highly recommended.
For mental care, the easiest help is to “give yourself time to return to your usual rhythm without rushing.” Adjust your sleep schedule 2–3 days before starting work, plan a light workload for the first day, rearrange your desk, add things that make you like Mondays more, such as good music or your favorite coffee, and don’t forget to recharge yourself with photos or good memories without pressuring yourself to want to turn back time.
Do light activities like exercising for 10 minutes or short meditation in the morning before starting the day. This helps the brain truly switch to an alert mode better than forcing yourself to work immediately. Finally, ask yourself honestly
“Am I reluctant to go back to work because I’m tired… or because this is no longer my place?”
This question might be an important starting point for adjusting your life path to better align with your current self. Ultimately, post-vacation blues do not mean we have a problem, but they are telling us that we deserve to value rest and should better balance our lives than before.
And since the long New Year holiday is coming, this is the best time to prepare your mind, body, and life rhythm—not just for rest but for returning to work without forcing yourself too much anymore.
Dr. Sukmon Wipavipolkul
Head of Mental Health Clinic
Phyathai 2 Hospital
