Feeling flat now you’re back to work?

A post-holiday slump is normal, but these clues signal it’s time for a new job

If you’ve found yourself feeling a bit flat after returning to work after the Northern Hemisphere summer (or outright hating your job) this year, you’re not alone. #BackToWork is trending on TikTok, with plenty of users lamenting the return to the office. A growing body of research also shows this feeling is pretty common.

But while there’s nothing new about the return-to-work blues, few companies have any strategy to facilitate readjustment to work after vacation.

So what does the research say on this issue, and what could employers do to address it? And, how do employees know when it’s time to look for a new job?

What does the research say?

One study found worker health and well-being:

increased quickly during vacation, peaked on the eighth vacation day and had rapidly returned to baseline level within the first week of work resumption.

Another found:

short breaks have an advantage over longer vacations on some measures, and this may be explained by attributes of the environment and activities in which vacationers engaged.

But while you may feel uninspired in your first few weeks back, hang in there: research has shown employees perceive they are more creative two weeks after returning from vacation.

Many of us were dreading work even before the break. A December 2022 survey on LinkedIn showed 60% felt they had worked too much in 2022, while another study showed 46% of Australian employees feel burned out.

The pandemic introduced new stressors into almost every area of our lives. As many of these stressors go on over several years, the risk of burnout increases.

Providing a psychologically safe workplace

In a recent report on mental health and the workplace, the Committee for Economic Development Australia noted poor mental health costs the Australian economy around A$70 billion dollars a year.

Employers should provide a psychologically safe workplace, along with access to mental health support.

Taking regular breaks, creating boundaries to stop work from spilling into our personal lives, getting exercise, and having other interests outside of work are important to reduce stress.

Taking holidays is also essential. One study found “health and well-being improve during vacation, but these positive vacation effects fade out within the first week of work resumption”. Even so, the same researchers noted vacations “may act as a buffer against future stressors”.

However, an October 2022 survey found 75% of Australians were not taking their annual leave due to workload and financial pressures.

This points to a broader issue that isn’t solved by announcing a new employee wellness initiative.

Wellness fads don’t work when the root cause remains

Organisations need to be aware wellness fads and token mindfulness programs do nothing to address stressors such as poor job design, overwork, inadequate management capability, and poor organisational and leadership culture.

All the free lunches and in-office massages in the world will be of no use if you’re working in a toxic culture or have a narcissistic boss.

Sometimes, systemic change is needed. That can mean redesigning jobs, rethinking pay, changing organisational structure, and addressing workload expectations.

Offering overworked employees yoga sessions, stress reduction workshops, meal vouchers, or sessions on personal resilience is unlikely to make any difference.

What’s needed is an approach addressing the root causes of employee burnout.

If I’m dreading work this much, should I look for a new job?

While feeling a bit flat at work after a holiday is normal for a few weeks, some indicators suggest it’s time for a new job (or a longer break). Research found that death anxiety was a key reason employees shifted jobs during the Great Resignation. Faced with an uncertain future, employees are no longer willing to go through the motions and are seeking work with greater meaning and purpose.

If you are still feeling flat a month after you return from a break, it’s likely to be more than the post-vacation slump.

Life is not supposed to be a series of barely tolerable weeks broken up by the anticipation of what we will do on just a few comparatively short moments of vacation leave.

In a job years ago that I wanted to love but didn’t, I tried all the things that were supposed to make it better. Variously, I tried adopting a positive mindset, setting insanely measurable goals for what I should achieve each quarter, taking up a new exercise routine, buying a new coffee machine and the perfect mug, trying some new hobbies, and splashing out on a new wardrobe.

Don’t get me wrong, all of those things can be useful. But they won’t address the real issue.

I still felt like I was wasting my life. The amazing salary, high level position with all the perks, bus class work travel and some great colleagues didn’t help at all.

Mondayitis crept forward across the weekend, like the long shadow of the setting sun. Before long, Mondayitis had turned into Fridayitis landing a dark pall soon after I’d get home from the gym or a fun night out with friends.

If your stressors are largely driven by the pressures of balancing responsibilities outside of work, you might ask your employer for flexibility with hours or working from home.

And while many companies are offering more flexibility since the pandemic, recent changes to federal laws will make it easier for employees to request flexible work.

So you’ve discussed your concerns with your manager – now what?

If there is a lack of genuine action to address poor organisational culture, inadequate leadership capability, continued overwork, and bad job design, then looking for a new job is probably a good idea.

And if you have a job that everyone else thinks is great but that leaves you feeling like you are moving through life like a character in a bad movie, that might be the best reason of all to make a change.