The End-of-the-Holidays Blues

 

When you absolutely can’t bear the thought of going back to work after your holidays, it might be high time to look for a new job.

 

You might be familiar with the term ‘Sunday Blues’. Among researchers this phenomenon refers to the weekly mood cyclicity where people display a more negative mood on weekdays and an improved mood on weekends. The negativity returns on Sunday afternoon, as the weekend draws to a close and dread of the coming week predominates.

The ‘Holiday Blues’ also descend on the weekend just before you return to work. Sometimes people experience symptoms similar to the Sunday Blues, such as low mood and feelings of hopelessness, tiredness or apathy. There may be a lack of willingness to engage in any activities even though they could be positive and beneficial.

However, it is important to note that while many people experience the Sunday Blues, there are always others who really look forward to Mondays and returning to work. For these people the working week provides them with many positives, such as autonomy, interesting tasks or a sociable environment.

 

If you are really not looking forward to your return to work, to the point where you feel stressed about it, you need to ask yourself if there are some underlying issues:

• Is my job satisfying?
• Do I feel that I grow professionally and personally – is it challenging and exciting for me?
• Are my work and my organisation aligned with my values?
• Do I get a good work / life balance? (If you work 11 hours a day and always feel tired and grumpy and the only thought that keeps you going is the next holiday, you might need to work on this balance).
• Do I work with people who respect me and do I respect them? Do I feel appreciated?

 

Look further into the causes of your end-of-the-holidays blues. You may be definite that you want to keep your job, but if you experience the following symptoms you still have to make changes:

• If you feel sick in your stomach thinking about going to work
• If you can get barely get out of bed on Monday but feel fine on Saturday
• If you come home and take out your stresses on your family
• If you are so exhausted you can?t engage in any other activities
• If you are permanently unhappy.

 

You may have experienced burnout, or have been bullied or harassed at work. If something serious is going on, you have to take steps towards addressing the issue.

If you do come to a realisation that you need to change your job, this is what you need to do.

Step One: Evaluate what kept you in that particular job for so long.

Ask yourself if some of your beliefs kept you in a job you hate. For example, “I need security and this job seems secure”, or “I have to put up with my boss being rude and disrespectful because bosses like that are everywhere”. Of course, it is not entirely true – there are many managers and bosses who truly care about their staff, their development, and their wellbeing.

Step Two: Check your values.

What is important to you? Is it really what you want for yourself – to be unhappy 10 hours a day in exchange for money? What is important to you?

Step Three: Start thinking about solutions.

Write down a few ideas for how you want your life to be. As clichéd as it sounds, money is not everything. I have witnessed many marriages collapsing after spouses grew apart because they simply couldn?t find the time to spend together due to their busy work schedules. I see people who want to connect with their children, who grew up seeing their own parents stressed out and unable to spare time for them. I see people who have neglected their mental and physical health, their hobbies and their friends without ever pausing to think about the price they pay for being in a job that is not suitable for them, who then suffer from work-related burnout.

 

Don’t be one of those people – give yourself a chance to live the life you deserve. If you do experience the End-of-the-Holidays blues, perhaps it is time to look for a new role.