Post-Holiday Blues: Returning from Winter Break!

The abrupt transition from winter break and the holiday season to the daily grind of school can be challenging to navigate for children, teens and adults too. Children and teens are more likely to express their feelings about the transition through behavior rather than words, such as being more irritable, not wanting to go to school and spending time alone, which results in a “let down effect”, and is also known as the post-holiday blues. 

Post-holiday blues don’t have long-term effects, and with a bit of time, students return to their usual self. It’s important to shed some light on how challenging it is for students to regulate their emotions and get back into routine, after having a long break from school where they might’ve been spending time with family and friends or traveling. 

It is common for children to display signs of tiredness and anxiety after returning from a long break. In school, they may seem unmotivated to do their work and find it difficult to stay on task. At home, they might find it difficult to readjust to their sleep routines or, as a result of struggling to get back to their schedules, they may be more irritable and moody. Additionally, if they have just spent some time with loved ones outside of the country, they may struggle with low mood. All these symptoms may be exacerbated during puberty due to the various internal changes that their bodies are going through during this time. 

To cope with these common post-holiday blues, it is important that children work through establishing a routine which includes some form of exercise throughout their week, consistent food breaks with proper meals, and healthy sleep schedules. It may also be helpful to sit with your child and discuss any changes to hours spent on devices, as that may be a difficult switch for some children. It is advisable to have open conversations with your child about how these changes are part of life, and explain to them why it is important to get back into routine when holidays are over. 

If you have noticed your child is struggling to get back to the school routine after the holidays, and have concerns about how they may be coping, or if you would just like some guidance on how to help your child manage these feelings, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Daania (d.fazal_gis@gemsedu.com) is here to support Grade 9-12 students, and Twinkle (t.agrawal@gemsisak.com) is here to support Grade 6-8 students.

In addition to the above support to students, we are keen and dedicated to spreading awareness and sharing strategies with parents. If you, as a parent, are interested in learning more about mental health, specific areas of wellbeing and how to better support your child, please complete this survey as it will help us understand where your interest lies and we can then provide you with the relevant information and resources.