Around the beginning of the Golden Week holidays, many people may experience symptoms of “May Blue,” such as not wanting to go to school or work, feeling somewhat unwell, or having trouble concentrating. In a survey conducted by Health Care Technologies Corporation, a subsidiary of SOFTBANK, more than 55% of respondents answered that they have experienced “May Blue”.

The main cause is the stress of an unfamiliar new life. However, positive changes such as going to the school of one’s choice or getting a promotion can also cause stress that anyone could experience.

In addition, about 18% of the respondents answered “more than 2 months” when asked about the recovery time from May blues. This indicates that May illness has a much greater impact on society than the mere notion of a “slump after the holidays.

May blues are unique to Japan, but in other countries, a depressed mood after the holiday season is called “January blues. It seems that the symptoms of motivation going down after a change in environment or after a vacation are common all over the world.

As we approach the turn of the GW season in Japan, how can we deal with our own motivation? In the following OPINION, we will discuss how to deal with low motivation, which we would like to practice during Golden Week holidays.

A new life begins in April. This spring was a major milestone for me, as I entered graduate school. I was very excited in April because I was going to study in a new place in a different field from that of my bachelor. By the time I had finally decided on courses and labs and settled into my student life, it was already May. With classes and assignments on weekends as well, I sometimes find it difficult to switch to classes and work after a day off. We have things to do, but we can’t seem to get motivated to do them. How should we control our motivation in such situations?

According to “How to Work When You Don’t Feel Like It” published in Harvard Business Review, Motivation is apparently not personal. And there are individual differences in the ability to control motivation. Among the methods that have been shown to be effective by the study are several.

First and foremost, it seems that goal design is the most important of all. Just as the beginning of anything is important, it is necessary to make a plan with an end in mind. It is also effective to give yourself rewards for each small step. It is also important not to try to complete the work alone. This is not about delegating work to someone else, but about creating a cycle of improving one’s own work through firm interactive interactions. This is about getting small feedback from your boss and working with colleagues who can help you think positively.

Before the Golden Week break, take another look at your work environment and organize your tasks.

Albergo di Fuzzo is an idea born in Italy, whereby depopulated rural villages are preserved in their original form, and tourists are invited to stay and experience firsthand the traditions and history of the area. It also encourages interaction with the local people. It may be a way of using a vacation to stay in a place where time passes slowly, surrounded by nature.

Zenbo Yasuning, a comprehensive facility that opened last April in the wilderness of Awaji Island, offers an active detox experience. Here, you can face your body and mind by eating food that regulates the intestines, meditating, and enjoying the tea ceremony, calligraphy, and incense ceremony in an environment surrounded by magnificent nature.

Leavism, the practice of working while on vacation / paid leave, is being viewed as a problem. In addition to the blurring of the boundary between work and private life following Corona, work psychologists point out that resistance to delegating one’s work to others is also linked to the occurrence of leavism. However, according to a study by the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Education), there is a direct link between leavism and worker stress. How to create an environment in which it is easy to delegate work will be a major challenge for the workplace in the future.

From an exciting vacation to a real job. It is difficult to return to work as usual. Post holiday blues,” feelings of loss and emotional distress after a vacation, are not uncommon. Dr. Hollingshead, a psychologist, suggests that getting at least seven hours of sleep while on vacation and making plans to avoid distractions after the vacation can help alleviate the post-holiday blues.