Ways to overcome post-holiday blues

By Kim Tae-jong

After the five-day Lunar New Year holiday, many people feel blue or find it difficult to return normally back to their daily rhythm.

Doctors say such people are experiencing mental distress and physical tiredness that typically occurs after long holidays, called “post-holiday syndrome” or “holiday blues.”

Some of the common symptoms are feeling sleepy during the day, suffering from muscle aches, indigestion and being easily distracted at work.

Below are some suggestions by two professors from family medical departments to avoid post-holiday syndrome and smoothly get back into your daily routine.

1. Stretch your body

Many people complain of muscle ache in their shoulders, knees and wrists. Males tend to drive for hours to visit their hometown and again to get back during the holiday while females have to spend many hours cooking or doing other chores for family gatherings.

People feel pain in their muscles if they maintain the same position for hours. Kim Byung-sung of Kyung Hee University Medical Center suggests regular stretching can help them to relax and ease the pain. “Light exercise is always a good solution for mild muscle pain,” he said.

2. Sleep enough

People tend to sleep late and wake up late during the holiday, which breaks their daily rhythm. Professor Kim advises people try to go to bed early and wake up at the time they normally did before the holiday.

“Even if you fall asleep late, you need to wake up early. Otherwise, you can’t regain your previous daily rhythm. Taking a shower before going to bed can help you sleep soundly,” he said.

3. Eat light

Holiday foods are greasy and high in calories, which often leads people to suffer from indigestion. Professor Park Sang-min of Seoul National University Hospital advises people to eat light foods in the days following the holiday.

“If you have had too many dishes of holiday food, it’s better to start with light meals while back at work. If you have a digestion problem, take a digestion pill, but if you experience more serious symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea, a visit to a nearby clinic is suggested. And it’s advisable to avoid drinking for a while,” he said.

4. Plan ahead

People often can’t settle into work again right away after a long holiday, and they feel discomfort when sitting at their desks again. So it’s important to plan what they have to accomplish ahead instead of rushing into tasks.

“Don’t get overwhelmed by the work that’s piled up in front of you. Plan your week as well as decide what you should get done first,” he said.