Keep that holiday feeling going: no chance of post-holiday blues
Most people are familiar with this feeling: no matter how long the holiday was, it simply felt far too short. Around two-thirds of people are overcome by a vague sense of sadness when everyday life takes over again. This is known as ‘post-holiday syndrome’. Fortunately, there are a few remedies if you want to prolong that holiday feeling and beat the blues.
10 October 2025
What is post-holiday syndrome?
Although it is not a recognised medical condition, post-holiday syndrome is very real. It is characterised by a vague sense of sadness, low spirits and a longing for the next holiday. Guests at the Lemongarden Hotel are no strangers to this either. They too find it hard to say goodbye to days filled with sunshine, their seaside holiday, the beautiful Lemongarden pool and the excellent cuisine. After all, back home you probably can’t have breakfast right by the harbour, stroll through an olive grove or cool off in the Adriatic. But what can you do to combat this low mood?
On the one hand, it helps to plan a buffer between your holiday and work, so it’s better to schedule your return day for a Friday rather than a Sunday. That way, you have the weekend to mentally readjust to everyday life. This makes the transition a bit less stressful, as you can go shopping in peace and restock the fridge, unpack your suitcase and do a load of washing. You can deal with the 500 unread emails on Monday – and that’s early enough. There’s no need to ‘plough through’ weeks’ worth of backlog at work on your first day back. Try not to schedule appointments for the very first day after your return either; instead, give yourself a day to get your bearings first. Otherwise, you’ll feel ready for another holiday after just a few hours back in the daily grind.
Extend that holiday feeling: a professional strategy
Of course, the best thing is to prevent post-holiday blues from setting in in the first place. Or at least to put them off for as long as possible. You can do this by taking a few steps to prolong that holiday feeling:
- Bring your favourite bottle of wine or olive oil home from your holiday. Of course, it never tastes quite as good as it does right by the sea with a view of the sunset, but the taste buds and sense of smell are directly linked to the memory centre. Nothing transports us back to our holiday so quickly as smells and tastes.
- Try cooking traditional recipes from your holiday destination.
- Plan your next trip after you’ve returned from holiday. That way, you’ll always have something to look forward to.
- Set your favourite holiday photos as the wallpaper on your laptop or mobile phone. This also prolongs that holiday feeling.
- Listen to the songs that accompanied you on holiday, even at home. This brings a sense of light-heartedness and variety to everyday life.
Tip!
Although the Lemongarden Hotel is taking a short break over the winter, you can already choose your favourite room for next season! There are also a few dates still available for the autumn.
