Hanoi – On her second day back at work after the Lunar New Year holiday, 31-year-old Nga was given many tasks, but she felt sluggish, bored, and unmotivated.
Nguyen Thi Nga, currently in charge of communications for a company, is tasked with organizing the "kick-off" activities for the new year along with dozens of other responsibilities, but she constantly feels weary and discouraged. Her mind is still preoccupied with the Tet holiday, with its traditional ao dai dresses, banh chung (traditional rice cakes), and travel plans. Furthermore, the neck and shoulder pain, coupled with insomnia caused by the disrupted routine during Tet, leaves her exhausted and wanting nothing more than to stay home and rest.
"Sometimes, when I'm trying my best to motivate myself to work, my colleagues invite me out for meals, to take photos celebrating the Lunar New Year, or to visit temples, which makes it impossible for me to concentrate," Nga said.
Similarly, Duc Manh, 30, who works as a video producer for a real estate company, is often distracted. On his second day back at work after the Lunar New Year, he submitted his completed product to his supervisor for approval, but was asked to revise it because it didn't meet the requirements, making him even more discouraged.
"During the holidays, I traveled a lot, ate a lot, and especially consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, which made my head feel 'dull,' I frequently experienced headaches, and I couldn't concentrate," he said, adding that many colleagues were in a similar situation.
In particular, due to the mentality that "January is a month for leisure," many people plan to visit colleagues and friends to wish them a Happy New Year, or go to temples and pagodas, or travel to other provinces and cities, which affects their work.
Feeling tired and sluggish after the Lunar New Year is a common experience for many people. (Photo: Kalingatv)
According to Dr. Tran Thi Hong Thu, a psychologist and Deputy Director of Mai Huong Day Psychiatric Hospital, energy depletion after Tet (Lunar New Year) is a common problem, with symptoms including lethargy, difficulty sleeping, neck and back pain, difficulty concentrating, and low spirits. Many experts describe this condition as "post-vacation depression."
In reality, the relaxed and carefree Tet holiday often leads to resistance to the familiar rhythm of life and work. Therefore, upon returning to work, many people feel mentally discouraged.
Moreover, holidays are a very busy time, with constant gatherings making it inevitable that people stay up late, wake up late, and eat irregularly. This disrupts daily routines, often leading to fatigue and lethargy.
If this situation persists, it will negatively impact the work and study plans of many people after the holiday, leading to decreased morale, substance abuse, and contributing factors to depression, which in the long term can cause mental disorders. Not to mention, the exhaustion of energy after Tet can exacerbate pre-existing health problems.
Doctor Thu advised against being too relaxed or putting too much pressure on oneself during this time.
"Everyone needs time to get back to their normal routine after a long holiday, especially those who work far from home, leave the city to return to their hometowns for Tet (Lunar New Year), or travel ," Ms. Thu said, adding that this group needs time to rebalance their schedules and recover their health after flights.
Therefore, you shouldn't stress too much; take your time to adjust gradually.
The most effective approach is to create a prioritized list of tasks, along with a detailed implementation plan. Prioritize simple tasks that are easy to execute and don't require significant resources.
"You can work while sipping a cup of coffee or tea, chatting with colleagues, which will help you relax and avoid developing a negative attitude towards going to work," the doctor said.
Similarly, Dr. Phan Thai Tan, a health and weight loss coach at HomeFiT, suggests that people write down their current problems and goals for the new year to increase their determination, think positively, and push away negative thoughts.
"Setting New Year's goals not only helps you orient yourself but also creates more motivation, pulling you out of boredom. Strive to create more value, earn more money, so you can 'take a holiday' whenever you want," the doctor said.
Dr. Tan suggests several ways to instantly boost energy, including sunbathing, bathing, or body massage to activate the lymphatic system. You can choose herbal baths, ice baths, or simply alternating hot and cold showers, or warm and cool showers. The general principle is to use two modes with a temperature difference of about 15-20 degrees Celsius, transitioning gradually to change the temperature and listening to your body's sensations. The goal is to increase metabolism, improve alertness, boost immunity, and relax muscles after exercise.
You can also scrub your body with a loofah, or soak your face in ice water. These methods can be incorporated into your daily morning personal hygiene routine, helping to improve energy, reduce drowsiness and caffeine cravings, and stimulate collagen production to reduce aging.
In addition, tidying up your home and workplace is also a way to recharge your energy. You can start with the simplest things, such as placing a small potted plant or a bottle of essential oil.
In addition, a healthy lifestyle should be built through a balanced diet, adequate water intake, regular exercise for at least 30 minutes each day, and adopting an active lifestyle instead of sitting at a desk all day.
In particular, it's necessary to adjust your diet, cleanse your body of the "remnants" of Tet, eliminate alcohol, improve gut function, reduce bloating and indigestion, making your body feel lighter and contributing to better sleep.
"Don't forget to take proper breaks between work hours, eat regular meals, and get enough sleep. Only when you take good care of yourself can you work effectively," Dr. Tan said.
Thuy Quynh
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