MANY of us are now back to work or back to school after about two weeks of vacation. Many are excited to be back but there are a few who feels like they need a vacation after a vacation.
The Christmas holidays gave several people, including me, a chance to bond with the family, travel and meet with relatives.
My family’s traditions, as far as I can remember, include having lunch with my mother’s family every Dec. 24, then gather with my father’s family on New Year’s Eve in my grandparents’ home in Iloilo.
When our grandparents died, we alternately gathered before New Year in Iloilo or Bacolod. This year we went to Iloilo. It is always fun to spend time with family members. But it can also be stressful.
There was a storm and we were stranded in Iloilo for two more nights. There were no boat trips to Bacolod. When the storm was over, there were so many people in the pier that we were afraid we will have to spend the New Year’s Eve in Iloilo. We were blessed to be able to go home on Dec. 31.
Relatives from other countries also came home and we met them in Dumaguete. We went to a beach there.
When we came back, it was time for work. I wasn’t ready to go back to work. I was so tired and I was thinking of taking a vacation after a vacation.
Some people call this a holiday hangover.
The urban dictionary website “holiday hangover” was defined by Jaymi Dark, as “the terrible feeling you get the day you have to go back to work after more than two days off due to a holiday.”
This happens to many people all over the world. When we are on vacation, we are more relaxed. We don’t have to wake up early or experience the traffic.
Holiday hangover can easily be eliminated once you get used to the same routine again. How long? This will depend on the person. It could be a day or two or a week, and maybe for some a month. It can also be dependent if you love your work. There are even some people who are on vacation but would rather be at home.
At the end of first day of being back to work, I didn’t feel the hangover anymore. It felt great to be back. I am looking forward to our upcoming activities for the year.