POST-VACATION BLUES: REAL OR FAKE?
BY PILAR PASCUAL
When the holidays come to an end, it is time for
everyone to return to the school and work routine.
This may affect people’s attitudes during their first
week back, especially if they had a long, memorable
holiday. This change in their mood is called the post-
vacation blues. The post-vacation blues only lasts
about a week, although it may last longer if it is
intensified due to jet lag, depression, or unwillingness
to recover. At Shanghai Livingston American School
(SLAS), some students and teachers shared their
personal experiences and gave us some tips about
how to recover from the post-vacation blues.
“It feels like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. You
want to go back to where you were, but you have to
realize that it was only a vacation, and it is time for
you to get back to the routine,” said Mr. Chase Allen,
the Psychology and Yoga teacher at SLAS. “For me, I
just need to throw myself back into my daily routine
and focus on the next holiday so I can have motivation
to go to work every morning,” he added. Mr. Chase
has experienced these blues before and recommends
complete focus and committing to working hard to
get your old routine back.
The post-vacation blues are described as a mood that
people suffer from after returning home from an
amazing holiday. This syndrome is harmless and may
last only about a week. However, jet lag, depression,
and unwillingness to recover may intensify it, causing
it to last weeks or even months. The blues does not
require any specific type of medication or medical
treatment. In order to recover from it, people should
follow a specific routine that will help them get back
on track. Healthy choices are very important during
this time. To escape this mood and avoid depression,
it is recommended to talk with friends and family,
exercise, and follow a healthy diet. Looking at photos
and souvenirs from your trip will also motivate you to
work hard so that you can plan your next vacation.
Sam Mun, a sophomore at SLAS, the post-vacation
blues are feelings of disconnection and nostalgia.
“When you are having an amazing time and suddenly
you have to go back to school, it makes you feel down
and depressed,” he said. “I get the blues after every
single holiday, and what I recommend is focusing on
school work and exercise daily in order to erase your
vacation thoughts from your mind.” Sam is a great
example of how students should face the blues if they
experience it, and his tips are of great help.
The post-vacation blues may or may not affect you.
However, if it does, following the previous information
and tips will help you overcome it. At SLAS, people
have experienced this mood change and have seen
how it changed their actions. However, thanks to the
help of friends and family and making the correct
decisions, they were able to get back on track.
Vacations can be really memorable, and you may miss
them a lot. Instead of crying because its over, smile
because it happened. Work hard for your next vacation
and don’t let the post-vacation blues beat you!
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