Burnout is a psychological state faced by an individual exposed to heightened levels of stress for a prolonged period as a result of today’s hectic lifestyle. Holidays are viewed as a time for enjoyment and leisure and are meant to serve the purpose of escaping these daily stressors by spending time alone or with near and dear ones. Ironically, holidays are also a reason behind experiencing even greater levels of exhaustion, despair, and anxiety.
Holiday Burnout is a term used when an individual feels emotionally overwhelmed due to the high expectations and preparations required to take a holiday. People often go through something called holiday fatigue when they encounter a number of demands and obligations to be met during their mental break. It so happens that people overlook their self needs in an attempt to invest their energies into building familial relationships, creating memories, or keeping up with the customs and traditions. Although these things can be pleasurable momentarily, they disrupt your regular routine in general. Also, in cases where one’s own mental wellbeing is ignored, a holiday would turn out to be more stressful than cheerful.
Signs and Symptoms of Holiday Burnout:
- Frustration due to the holiday chores or activities
- Disruption in normal sleep-wake schedule
- Greater stress and anxiety levels
- Worrying about expenses
- Weakened immune system
- Losing interest in things
- Feeling tired after over socializing
- A disturbed digestive system; an increased appetite or loss of appetite
Tips to Prevent Holiday Burnout:
- Prioritize: Having tons of activities on your plate can cause confusion. Trying to organize things and prioritize helps to understand what needs immediate attention and what can be put on hold for a while. In case of holidays for example showing up to a limited number of events instead of attending every function on the list will not exert you or elevate distress.
- Organize: Developing a habit of preparing a to-do list and planning and mapping out tasks for the day can help you better accomplish things undertaken.
- Maintain a routine: After creating a routine, it is important to stick to it and be consistent. This practice will give you a greater hold on activities and prevent holiday chaos.
- Collaborate with others: While on a holiday, one needs to be collaborative with others to get things done instead of micro-managing everything themselves. This leaves you with an extra mental space allowing room for actual peace and leisure.
- Set boundaries: Being mindful of your mental and physical capabilities is important to prevent burnout. Learning to say a polite no rather than having to please everyone by overcommitting yourself while on a holiday is anytime preferable for your own wellness.
- Retrospect your emotions: Pausing to access your emotions can help you keep a tab on your highs and lows. One needs to make sure they do not carry over negative emotions of a disturbing episode they lately came across as it would cause bitterness and ruin their minibreak.
- Practice self-care: Indulging into self-care practices such as taking a nap, going for a walk, hitting the gym, painting, and reading are all essential as they help you maintain your sanity and are refreshing for your brain health.
- Maintain your sleep schedule: Getting enough rest and sleep is crucial for your mind and body after an exhausting and long day. A proper amount of sleep lets your body relax, helps combat fatigue, increases productivity, and allows you to bounce back.
