Post holiday blues? Here's how to beat them with science

According to psychologist Cliff Arnall, who in 2004 was somewhat jokingly commissioned to find the UK’s most depressing day, ‘Blue Monday’ as it became known falls each year on the third Monday in January. The combination of miserable weather and a post-Christmas comedown conspires to leave us with a truly miserable outlook.

Whilst I’m sure the, ahem, ‘science’ behind Blue Monday is entirely beyond reproach, for many people returning to work this week, 'right now' may also feel like a strong contender for the crown. As our summer holidays fade from memory and the weather starts to turn autumnal, that feeling of care-free summer fun has somehow morphed into ‘back to work’ angst.

So, as the last UK bank holiday this side of Christmas is consigned to history, today feels like a good day to take a #DataLed look at what science says are the best ways to avoid those post-holiday blues.

Make it a soft landing

When scientists monitored the happiness of holiday makers, they found that levels returned to ‘normal’ pretty quickly following the end of a break. And whilst this means they were no less happy than their pre-holiday average, as humans we tend to compare things in relative terms – and relatively speaking they felt it as a loss.

One way to avoid this sharp decrease in happiness is by taking some time to reacclimatise at the end of our busy holidays. A couple of stress-free days to slip back into normal life may not seem like great use of free time, but from a happiness perspective it will pay dividends.

Relive the memories

Not only are holidays a great way to have fun, they’re also a great source of memories, giving us the ability to relive our favourite moments for free. Our brains are not like databases though, so typically we need a nudge or trigger to help us access them. Take time to look through your photos (a good reason to take lots), buy souvenirs and keep them where you’ll see them and shamelessly share your holiday stories with friends and family (and smile politely whilst they also regale you with theirs).

Plan your next trip

Even if you’re not yet ready to take the plunge and book another break, just the act of planning your next holiday is enough to give you a wellbeing boost. According to research, anticipation actually induces a stronger emotional response than retrospection – so imagining your next exciting getaway is a cheap and easy way to stretch out those summer vibes until you can do it all again.

Make a positive lifestyle change

With more time to relax and think, holidays are often a perfect time for self-reflection. Whether it be refocusing us on the things we enjoy and value the most in life or perhaps just some new insights from a book we read. So, before your brain refills with work related problems use some of this newfound zen to set yourself a new goal. Goal setting is not only a great way to boost motivation, but with the right goals you can also bring about some positive lifestyle changes.

Subscribe to this blog

Ok, this one may not be quite so evi

dence based, but adopting a more #DataLed outlook on life can only be a good thing, right?