Returning to work after holidays increases stress

It's September, and while some students are dealing with the annual back-to-school blues, many adults are dreading returning to their cubicles. August traditionally is a time of year for people to take their last summer holiday, and while some find that last vacation before autumn refreshing and energizing, for others, it means the party is over.

"For some people, holidays are an escape from chronic work-related stress, so when they do come back they feel the tension of having to return to what they feel is always going to be a stressful environment," said Craig McNulty, clinical psychiatrist at The City Practice Prague.  

Some people feel their stress levels rise even before returning to the office, McNulty added. They start thinking about facing a pile of work that rapidly built up while they were away. In addition to the stress of returning to the workplace, some have to worry about getting back into the natural order of taking care of the house and kids, too. This type of stress can cause physical reactions like backaches, stomachaches and sleep problems, experts say.

Conversely, some people may feel stressed to leave their jobs and are distracted or on edge while on vacation, instead.

"It's purely individual," said Iva Šolcová, senior researcher and psychologist at the Institute of Psychology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. "Some people who love their job might actually be paradoxically stressed while on vacation. The idea of that they will not influence what is going on in the job can become unpleasant or 'extra baggage.' "

In 2010, a study was conducted to test the effect of vacations on happiness levels. The study, published in the journal of Applied Research in Quality and Life, tested 1,530 Dutch adults, 974 of whom had taken a vacation during a study period of 32 weeks. The results, compiled by researchers from the Netherlands, concluded that people were happier and more relaxed before a trip than after - primarily because either the trip itself was stressful or the thought of returning to work was cause for anxiety.

While stress can't always be avoided, what is most important is how a person copes with the stress that will ultimately help them ease back into work mode, according to experts.

"Count on stressful situations in life, and realize that you cannot avoid them in today's world," Šolcová said. "It is important to be aware of this, especially when tense situations revolve around your 'daily bread' or work."

Acknowledging there will be a post-holiday effect - whether with stress or a feeling of loss and depression - is the first step in easing back into work, McNulty said.

"Giving yourself time to get back to your work comfort zone is important; don't expect to start back at full capacity," he said. "It's like warming up before a game of tennis: Stretch the muscles slowly, and if you don't, expect to get hurt."

In addition to setting limits for themselves, McNulty added that people try to compensate for their absence by taking on extra work as a kind of apology for having been away, and that will only create more stress.

Sometimes setting limits is not enough, and people just need to "shut down," according to Šolcová.  This means taking time for yourself on a daily basis by going for a walk, reading a book or listening to music. It also means relaxing on the weekends.

"Going to the cottage on the weekends is a real family burden the way it is practiced here in the Czech Republic," she said. "People need reasonable rest during the weekends."

Both Šolcová and McNulty said moderate physical exercise to help manage stress is proven to help in both work and personal life.

"Physical activity is a good way to deal with stress-related issues, but it's important to get the exercise you enjoy - and that may take time to find. But it's definitely worth it," McNulty said.

- Klará Jiřičná contributed to this report.

Megan Battista can be reached at
features@praguepost.com