Returning To Work Anxiety: How To Ease Post Holiday Stress

Returning to work after a break or holiday can trigger feelings of anxiety for many people. When routines shift and expectations feel high, it’s common to experience worry, tension or stress about restarting work, especially if you’ve got used to rest or downtime.

You may experience anxiety about returning to work or post holiday anxiety at work as a reaction to the change.

During the festive break you may have found time to relax, rest, see people and do fun things. If you’ve had time off you’ll have fallen into new patterns and routines, perhaps staying up later and sleeping in. There may have been changes to what you eat, drink and how you have used your time.

Now you face the prospect of returning to the work routine. That likely means getting up earlier and dealing with the rush. You’ll have deadlines, demands and people to deal with. It may feel overwhelming just to think about it after your break from it all. The decorations and lights are taken down, the weather is dark and cold, and the next real break is not for quite some time.

Your anxiety about returning to work may mean you notice tension, restlessness, overthinking and a sense of overwhelm as you face emails, tasks and deadlines. Post holiday anxiety and stress affects countless people each year.

Practical Strategies to Manage Returning To Work Anxiety

Here are some practical strategies to help you manage returning to work anxiety:

1. Use Mindfulness and Grounding Exercises

Simple mindfulness exercises can help you stay present and reduce stressful thoughts and feelings.

Read more: Mindfulness for Anxiety and Stress During Festive Chaos

2. Manage Your Expectations

Avoid overloading yourself on your first week back. Take small, achievable steps as you ease back into your work routine.

Related: End of Year Reflection Anxiety and Overthinking

3. Consider Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

If you feel dread about work and like you are on high alert, hypnotherapy can help you regain calm, focus and confidence.

Learn more: Panic Attacks at Christmas

You might also find this helpful: New Year Anxiety: How to Prepare Yourself Mentally for January.

Hypnotherapy has strong evidence for effectiveness in treating anxiety: The Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy as a Treatment For Anxiety and, as an example, you may want to take a look at what Nicola said after her sessions for anxiety at work: Anxiety at Work

Return To Work Anxiety

Feeling anxious about returning to work is normal and very common. Taking small steps, grounding techniques and professional support can help you transition back in the normal routine smoothly and confidently.

There are many beneficial ways to interrupt anxious thoughts and calm anxious feelings. You can start feeling more calm, positive and in control.

Returning to work anxiety is a common form of situational anxiety that tends to show up as constant thinking, anticipation or ‘what if’ thoughts . You can explore different types of anxiety and how hypnotherapy can help on my Anxiety Support Hub for Ely.

If returning to work feels overwhelming or stressful, hypnotherapy can help calm anxious thoughts, support emotional regulation and make transitions feel more manageable. You can start the new year feeling confident and fully equipped to thrive in the year ahead.
👉 Learn more about Anxiety Hypnotherapy in Ely

To your health and happiness,

Dan Regan

Anxiety Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Struggling with anxiety, stress, worry and fear and need some help? Find out how I can help with a Complimentary Anxiety Hypnotherapy Strategy Session. Learn more here: Appointments

Find out what hundreds of other people have said after their anxiety hypnotherapy sessions with Dan: Hypnotherapy Testimonials

And check out these popular and powerful hypnosis downloads that can start helping you right away with anxiety, confidence and more: Hypnosis Downloads