Jan 12th, 2018
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been working and therefore how much ‘returning-to-work’ experience you have; the first day, week, (or for some – month), back after a break is hard.The relaxing holiday is at an end and the blues are linked to the fact that the fun times are over. Also adding fuel to the fire are the fantasies of a sea-change and becoming a diving instructor in Hawaii or Mauritius. While dreams are fun (and who knows, you may decide to make them a reality), they certainly don’t help with settling back into the working routine.There are also very real physical factors to contend with. During your break you have most likely upped your food and alcohol intake and you have probably altered your sleeping patterns significantly. Going back to work is akin to going on a crash diet and resetting your body clock for daylight savings.
The effect of the holiday does eventually fade, usually after three weeks to a month. Though it fades fairly quickly, there is no doubt that a holiday is important for your mental health and wellbeing. It is a time to relax and recharge. You can delay the ‘fade-out’ effect and keep the ‘holiday glow’ by doing nice things for yourself after work; going out for a meal with friends, a walk in the bush or on the beach, or whatever makes you feel good.
Coming back after a break and the New Year are good reasons to take stock of your situation. Feeling depressed at being back at work is not necessarily an indication that you are in the wrong job. But perhaps it’s time to check in on your job satisfaction. If you have been dissatisfied for a year or more, it may be time to consider a change; either by learning new skills or looking for a new role where your existing skills are utilised.
Wentworth Advantage has some excellent resources to help you. We have a whole section in our online resources called ‘Managing Your Career’. If you are considering further study, please read How to Choose the Best Course for Further Study.
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