Just post holiday blues? Or is this something more serious....

You come back from summer holidays dreading going back to work. You set your alarm for Monday morning, fervently hoping that it won’t be too hard to get back into the swing of things in the office. Yet by lunchtime on your first day back you’re completely miserable and counting down the minutes until Friday afternoon. ‘It’s normal’, you think, looking at your happy holiday photos on facebook just one last time. ‘It’s just the post-holiday blues.’

But what if it’s not? What if your post-holiday blues are the sign of something bigger? And how do you tell the difference between something that’s quite normal, and something that indicates that it’s time for a change?

The post-holidays blues happens to lots of us (probably most of us if we’re honest) -even those of us who are really very happy in our careers.  Research shows that for many people the post holiday-blues will last for 5 days- sometimes up to 10!-and that a staggering 80% of us will consider changing jobs during this time.

Yet is that such a bad thing? As awful as they can feel, post-holiday blues are an important signifier of how things are going in our work life. 

Maybe this feeling of gloom is the perfect time to assess your progress, ask for that promotion, or undertake further training?  Perhaps it’s time to change companies, or even embark on a new career entirely?

Remember, post-holiday blues is a time to figure things out. Try not to make any dramatic career decisions when suffering from the post-holiday blues- not in the first week or two, anyway. This is certainly the time to consider your options and plan some long-term goals, but it’s not yet the time to act on them.

During this stage:

• Give real thought to your CV and rewrite it to reflect your current abilities and goals.
• Consider your skills and how they could be best used in your current job or in a new one.
• Think about what you enjoy at work and how that element of your job could be increased.
• Speak to your boss or HR adviser about being open to new challenges.
• Speak to a recruiter to find out what is out there and how it compares to what you have.
• Or consider Simon Sinek's advice and think about what you are grateful for in your current company, what elements you are passionate about in your role - is it just a shift of attitude you really need? A focus on the 'I have' rather than the 'I have not' that you really need?
• Maybe it is not the job at all...perhaps it is making time outside of work to pursue a passion or a hobby that will bring the joy you need to give you an appetite for life in general again

You might find that after assessing your situation you realise your current position is better than you thought, or has potential for the future. However, if your post-holiday blues persist over time, or just dull into a bearable ache, then you’ll know that it’s time to put these plans into practice.

What if it is just post-holiday blues?  

Should we just accept that? No, definitely not! They’re not only unpleasant for you, but they hurt productivity, and possibly even your work reputation. There are some ways to beat them- particularly if you put them in place before your holiday.

So, how can you beat post-holiday blues?

? Plan something you’re really looking forward to for soon after you get back. Many people book their next big holiday immediately, but it could just be a gig, a weekend away or a massage. 

? Make the first week back a four-day week.

? Travel back 2 days beforehand so that you don’t feel exhausted as well as miserable.

? Keep your auto-office reply on for the first few hours, or even the first day back, just to get on top of your emails. (If you’re feeling really brave, check your emails the last night before going back. Highly productive people swear by doing a small amount of work on Sunday nights as a matter of practice so they can feel like they’ve achieved something before they’ve even started the week. Might sound dreadful, but it makes you feel good about yourself when you walk into the office?)

? Give some thought to what you want to achieve in your job in a given time-frame and spend some time in your first week putting that into action.

Sometimes changing your physical circumstances isn't possible — or not possible soon enough, or you may want a less drastic change, but you still want to be happier. You can't get to a new job right away or you regularly bump into that friend who makes you feel badly, what options do you have left?

Change your perception, belief or opinion of the situation...

The Greek philosopher Epictetus said it beautifully more than 2,000 years ago: "People are disturbed, not by things (that happen to them), but by the principles and opinions which they form concerning (those) things. When we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own principles and opinions."

Modern behavioral science agrees! American psychologist Albert Ellis, famous for developing rational emotive behavior therapy, explained that "how" people react to events is determined largely by their "view" of the events, not the events themselves.

Have no clue how to change your perception — and improve your attitude? Here are five easy ways to start:

1. Admit to yourself that you're not happy.

You can't change anything if you aren't aware that something needs to be changed. Stop the cycle of wishing things were different and take control of your thoughts and reactions to events and people.

2. Realize optimism is a choice.

You are not born with a positive or negative attitude. It is something you become through your perspective of experiences. Very few situations are completely bad. Always try to come up with three to five positives and write them down so you can remember them.

3. Use positive words.

Use statements like, "I am hopeful," or, "We will find a resolution," throughout the day. The words you use when you talk have a major impact on your attitude and emotional outlook.

4. Hang out with friends who have a happy vibe.

Try surrounding yourself with friends that exude positive energy. Pay attention to the words they use when they talk to you about their day. You will be amazed how simple it is to ascertain if they are a positive or negative influence.

5. Say a daily affirmation.

Find a quote that is meaningful to you and say it aloud every morning. "Something great is going to happen today," sends your energy in an expectant and positive direction. I know it sounds a bit "Zen" and somewhat mystical, but it is actually a very simple and effective method for retraining your subconscious mind — and advocated by both ancient and scientific research. 

Post-holiday blues can be a temporary blip, or a catalyst to spur you towards the next exciting step in your career. Either way, they’re an opportunity for reflection. But don’t let them get you down- either beat them or act on them!

Best wishes,

Lucy