You were on vacation and life was blissful. You stayed in a great hotel with beautiful views, woke up in the morning to a great buffet, visited all the beautiful places, wined and dined in amazing restaurants, ate lots of pizzas, spent hours on the beach and had such a carefree day with your best friend that you wanted to pause life at that moment and not resume the usual monotony of life. But suddenly, the craziest long weekend of the year is over and now you are coming back from vacation!

Suddenly, a lot of questions come to your mind – why does the vacation have to end, why do I need to go back to my job, why can’t I travel all the time, why does the usual routine suck, why can’t I go to the mountains again, why do I have to go to that stupid work meeting, why do I have to worry about managing the groceries at home, etc. On top of all this, you may feel irritable, upset, and less motivated at work after returning from vacation.

Sounds like you’re feeling the same way after a long weekend trip?

Well, it is normal to feel like this, and many people experience it. The reasons behind it may vary from person to person. For many, it may be due to a busy travel schedule. Many others may fear the idea of ​​returning to normal. Many people face work requests even on a day off, which hinders the refreshment they expect.

Dr Roshan Mansukhani, a Mumbai-based therapist and counsellor, says, “Holidays are meant to rejuvenate ourselves, but some of us carry work as a burden. This is normal, but we should adapt to being free from the burden of work, at least while on vacation. Of course, you will feel tired because you have travelled so much, and there is also a burden of stress that you did not even realise.”

For many people, vacations are a way to escape reality. While vacations can provide temporary relief, the thought of returning to something you don’t want to face can cause sadness. They can also provide a signal to work on the root cause.

“In today’s times, holidays are taken to escape from routine life and worries around. So when you have to return to something that we desperately need to escape from, it becomes difficult. Exhaustion and low motivation are natural because the daily routine will now be stressing you out, and we want to escape from the stress. So, one always needs to fix the root cause of exhaustion and low motivation, rather than avoid it,” says Sheena Sood, consultant psychologist and counsellor at PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai.

“Some people who are going on a holiday rather than moving somewhere else report feeling tired and less motivated when they return. Many also experience anxiety as they get closer to returning to work after their holiday,” she adds.

Dr Gaurav Gupta, CEO and senior psychiatrist at Gurugram-based Tulsi Healthcare, says that feelings of depression or lack of motivation can arise due to the gap between your vacation and regular life.

There are many ways to deal with the post-holiday blues. Snapping at your coworkers for no reason is definitely not one of them.

Take a day off after returning from vacation

This is really important for a smooth transition back to regular life after a vacation. You might be tempted to make the most of the vacation you took, but it is always better to have a day off to relax, especially if you took a red-eye flight.

“Don’t return to work the same day. If possible, give your body a day to get back to normal and be ready to get back to everyday life,” says Sheena Sood.

Overdoing yourself with heavy work or study may be a bad idea.

Anandita Vaghani, founder and mental health therapist at Mumbai-based clinic Unfix Your Feelings, says, “To prevent post-holiday depression and maintain a positive mood, avoid common mistakes like taking on a heavy workload right away. Instead, give yourself a transition period to ease back into responsibilities gradually.”

Even a day or two off after the holidays are over can help your body recover from the physical fatigue caused by traveling.

Keep the itinerary light

When planning a vacation, make sure you keep a flexible or light schedule. Hectic travel is one of the main reasons for the dreaded post-holiday blues.

Dr Manshukhani suggests, “You don’t have to try and cover all the sightseeing in limited days as you will tire yourself out. Choose your destinations and have the best experience there.”

Bring souvenirs and gifts for loved ones

Trust me, this is not a message for a friend who travels a lot. (and whoever I will share this article with)But experts say bringing gifts for loved ones can help keep the post-holiday blues at bay.

“Keep nice souvenirs and gifts with you that you can share with people once you get back to your daily routine. This will keep you motivated and you will not feel sad about your daily routine,” says Sheena Sood. Also, talking to them about your holiday experience can help you deal with the sadness. You will be eager to share gifts and travel stories and, therefore, will not mind getting back to your daily routine.

Start planning your next trip

When you are coming back from your trip, start planning the next trip. It is always better to have something that you can look forward to. You can spend time researching potential destinations and creating an itinerary.

Write travel reviews

The trip is over, but your heart is still craving for a vacation. Take advantage of your inability to get out of the holiday mood by writing reviews on travel websites. Many travelers and local businesses can also benefit from your experiences.

“Consider writing reviews on travel websites, offering tips and sharing advice to make someone else’s vacation better. Not only will this make your memories stronger, but it will also help local businesses and help others avoid your mistakes,” says Vaghani.

Continue practicing self-love

We indulge in a lot of self-care activities during vacations, such as enjoying favorite foods, going on long walks, taking a dip in the pool, dressing up and relaxing at a spa.

“Just like it’s important to take care of yourself during your vacation, it can be helpful to carry these habits back when you return. Maintain routines that promote wellness, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation techniques,” Vaghani suggests.

Avoid comparing holidays and everyday life

We know life was great when you were eating pizza in Italy, but it can be depressing to compare your vacation to everyday life all the time.

“Try to incorporate the enjoyable parts of your trip into your regular activities,” says Dr. Gaurav Gupta.

A little homework before the holidays start

This sadness will bother you less if you get a few things right before you leave on that much-awaited trip.

Vaghani says, “If there are any unresolved conflicts at home or work that are causing post-holiday blues, it may be beneficial to resolve these issues before the trip.” By doing so, your travel agenda will change from an escape from reality to a place to relax or rejuvenate.

“People usually don’t decide or know the purpose of their vacation; they end up exhausted. People who are always clear on their purpose and follow through on it come back feeling refreshed,” says Sood.

Deciding beforehand whether the vacation is an escape or a way to relax from the everyday grind will help you be honest and fix the problem that is causing daily stress. You can also ensure that you don’t work too hard on your vacation as that would mean exhaustion.