Few people come back from vacation rested and full of energy. After all, it’s not for nothing that they say: “No one needs a vacation as much as the one who has just returned from it.” Why is this happening and what to do about it?
Why do we enjoy travel so much?
To answer this question, we need to understand why travel makes us happier.
New impressions. Going on vacation, we feel happiness due to the synthesis of the hormone dopamine. It is developed from excitement and anticipation of getting something new. Fresh impressions from discovering unfamiliar places, tasting unusual food, meeting new people, and so on.
Pleasant fatigue. If we have to walk a lot on excursions, overcome our strength, or dive with equipment underwater, endorphins are synthesized, leading to euphoria. Pleasant fatigue is especially evident in people with physical inactivity, who spend most of their working time in chairs behind monitors.
New acquaintances. If you relax with a nice person or get to know one on the way, then oxytocin is synthesized. Unity with other people and feel like a part of society is a kind of happiness (not being alone).
Why after the holidays nothing pleases
When the vacation exceeds half, it often covers the “post-vacation syndrome” – the reluctance to return to the “gray everyday life”, to go to work. Why is this happening?
Abrupt change of scenery. As a rule, returning from vacation to work causes irritability and laziness. In addition, before that, you still need to pack your things, fold your suitcase, and survive the flight. All this provokes the production of stress hormones – cortisol and norepinephrine.
Unloved job. “To see the leader again”, “To get up again before dawn”, and “I hate my job” – from such thoughts, the mood tends to zero. Especially if you have postponed an important report or a major project for a while after your vacation.
Lack of rest. If you rested in business (in the garden, cottage, home, repair, and so on), you did not rest. Changing the type of activity does not always allow you to relax, switch and recuperate.
High expectations. If you had illusions about vacation time (find a new hobby, meet a romantic partner, and so on), you could end up disappointed in the end.
Health problems. Fatigue after a vacation may be due to physiological problems. For example, lack of energy and fatigue may indicate a hidden iron deficiency. And insomnia and lethargy may be because the usual sleep pattern has gone astray on vacation.
How to come back happy after a vacation
Do not build illusions about a vacation by thinking about the future. Strive to be “here and now”, in the present moment. Mindfulness-style mindfulness practices will help you with this.
Track your thoughts and, if you already hate your job, dedicate your vacation not to the beach, but to finding a cause that will inspire you.
Plan your holiday schedule, taking into account the time for acclimatization. Leave a couple of days after returning from a trip to resolve household issues and recover from the move.
Avoid chemical abuse while on vacation (alcohol, smoking) and try to stick to your usual sleep and physical activity schedule. If you do yoga every morning, you should not give up a good habit during the holidays.