Are you suffering from paradise syndrome?

If you get sick every time you take a few days off, it’s probably because you’re too stressed at work.

Finally the holidays if you are from August? Unless they have already started for a few weeks? But there you go, whatever the weather, good or bad, you start not feeling very well…

Eleven months of hard work

You may simply be suffering from what has been dubbed the paradise syndrome, or leisure disease. After eleven months of working non-stop, the sudden change of pace actually becomes your main enemy. The very fact of being on vacation, of being able to breathe, makes your nerves and your immune system collapse.

Suddenly, you will feel exhausted, have the sensation of having a cold, of having a sore throat. But these symptoms do not hide a cold caught in the middle of a heatwave by the pool. Rather, most of the time, it is what the Dutch psychologist Ad Vingerhoets theorized at the dawn of the 2000s, namely the leisure disease.

Eleven months of hard work

Of course, the first paid holidays in France date back to 1936, at the time of the Popular Front. But since then, the facts have been stubborn: when you suddenly stop working hard, whether it is manual or intellectual work, if the nerves relax, the body and the brain do not always follow.

But it’s also a symbol of what the rest of your year has been like before you reach the summer holidays: it’s probably your excessive workload for eleven months that’s causing you to break stress records. How can you avoid this? By simply avoiding going from one extreme to the other, from too much to nothing at all.

Don’t go from everything to nothing

First effective method: take a micro vacation, a brief break of a few days, in order to let this fatigue out. Some will take the time to read or do crosswords to get their neurons going. Others will get into a summer rhythm by regularly practicing a sport, from running to paddle tennis to swimming. Enough to replenish their dopamine and serotonin levels.

But besides that, nothing beats taking advantage of the holidays to recover properly. How? Both by having good times with your family and loved ones, and by getting some rest. A good night’s sleep should not exempt you from a few afternoon naps, after a good meal! Just to avoid the next unpleasant hurdle: the famous back-to-school blues!

To avoid leisure syndrome and reduce the risk of getting sick while on vacation, here are some tips:

• Maintain a healthy routine: Try to maintain a regular sleep pattern and balanced diet as much as possible, even during the holidays.
• Personal hygiene: Wash your hands regularly to reduce the risk of spreading germs, especially in public places and when traveling.
• Stress management : Practice stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or simply taking time to relax and recharge.
• Hydration and nutrition: Make sure you stay well hydrated and eat nutritious foods to support your immune system.
• Moderate exercise: Moderate exercise can boost your immune system, so find enjoyable ways to stay active while you’re on vacation.

By adopting these simple practices, you can help prevent leisure syndrome and fully enjoy your vacation without getting sick.

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