Even though I enjoy my holidays, I consider myself very fortunate to love my job too. Having rested up and recharged over a vacation, I’m not ashamed to say that part of me looks forward to getting back to work, reconnecting with colleagues and tackling the next challenge.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes come back to work with a case of the post-holiday blues, though. It can take time to readjust, but I know from experience that I’ll get through the first couple of days and be able to throw myself headfirst into my tasks with a refreshed attitude.
However, what if those first few days of the post-holiday blues turn into a couple of weeks? As you keep casting your mind back to your time off, or start planning your next one, it could be that what you really need is a more permanent change of scenery – a new job.
Let’s look at some of the signs that it’s actually time to start your next job search.
Five signs to start a job search when you get back to work
1) Going into holiday mode way before you actually leave
It’s completely normal to be excited for your holiday. However, there’s a difference between letting your mind wander, and mentally checking out in the build-up to your vacation because you couldn’t wait to get away from the workplace:
Signs include:
- Poor concentration
- Letting your performance slip
- Thinking that you’ll deal with challenges when you get back
- Putting little or no effort into a handover email or document
2) Feeling happy and relaxed for the first time in a while
Did your holiday make you realise that this was the first time in ages that you’d felt happy? Of course, only a very lucky few enjoy their job 100% of the time, but those frustrating or stressful moments should be few and far between.
Finding the right job means being happy and feeling that the effort you put in is worth it. In fact, your role should afford you a healthy work-life balance that means you don’t require a holiday in order to totally unwind.
3) Deliberately avoiding any talk about your work
When you’re trying to relax, it’s natural that you’re not going to bring up work. However, if you’re making an active effort not to mention it, even if it comes up naturally in conversation, then there could be a bigger reason for wanting to avoid it.
Namely, that you want to pretend it doesn’t exist and that you won’t have to go back to work once your holiday is over. Did you find yourself thinking this while you were off?
4) Not looking forward to going back to work at all
Were you dreading your return to work, or even experiencing some post-holiday blues before it was even over?
If you were unable to find any reason whatsoever to miss your workplace, from your colleagues to your company’s purpose, then you’ll struggle to stay motivated now that you’re back. In fact. I’d actually say that it’s the clearest signal to move onto something that you do miss while you’re on holiday (even if it is just a little bit).
5) When you return to work, it feels like you never had a holiday
On top of those post-holiday blues, you might have returned to your previous state of mind so strongly that it doesn’t even feel like you were away. If your time off already feels like a distant memory and those familiar stressors and frustrations have come back to work with you, then you might struggle to find anything that can improve your attitude toward your current workplace.
Is it more serious than post-holiday blues?
Does the above sound familiar? If so, here are some steps you can take:
Author
A native of Liverpool, Chris joined Hays in 1996, working in the UK and Portugal before arriving in Spain in 2002. As Managing Director for the Hays Group in Spain he led the growth of the company from start-up to 300 consultants across 6 regional locations. In 2022 he was appointed Regional Managing Director for Southern Europe, a subregion that serves customers and changes thousands of lives across Portugal, Italy, and Spain.
He has a degree in International Business and Modern Languages from Aston University, including a year’s study at l’École Supérieure de Sciences Commerciales d’Angers and has since completed executive education courses at Ashridge Business School and IMD. He is a regular public commentator on the world of work and international trade.
Until 2020, Chris served as President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain and currently serves as Vice Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce and acts as NED of the British Embassy in Spain. Chris was awarded an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, in the 2020 New Year Honours List for services to British business.
