During the New Year holidays, I want to relax and enjoy the warmth of a kotatsu, eating New Year's food, and more, but before I know it, it's almost time to start work.

When I think about work, I feel depressed and my mind and body feel sluggish...

For those of you who feel this way, we'd like to introduce some recommended reset methods to help you start your new job feeling refreshed.

Why you feel depressed before starting work

"Shigoto Hajime" refers to starting work as the new year approaches.

What is the reason why starting a new job can be so depressing?

I'm so tired from the holidays that it's hard to wake up

It's been a while since you've had a long break, so have you been drinking late into the night or sleeping until noon, resulting in your day and night cycle being reversed?

Once your body clock is out of whack, it becomes difficult to wake up in time for work in the morning.

I feel tired from eating too much

Do you find yourself eating too much every day, with drinking parties all the time at the end of the year and New Year's food and rice cakes all the time?

Not only can overeating lead to weight gain, but many people also feel tired from eating because their stomachs are constantly working to digest food.

If your stomach doesn't get a rest, you'll feel sluggish when you wake up in the morning and your concentration at work will be impaired.

I don't want to go back to a routine of hard work

For those who work hard every day, a few days off over the New Year holidays may not be enough to completely relieve their fatigue.

Even though I was able to get some much-needed rest, it ends in the blink of an eye, and I get depressed thinking about going back to my busy daily life.

I don't want to meet unpleasant bosses or coworkers.

Having trouble with relationships at work or having difficulty getting along with coworkers can also cause depression when starting a new job.

Those who spent a fun time with family, relatives, and close friends over the New Year holidays may feel the gap even more.

I hate the crowded trains on my commute

Those who commute for long periods of time on crowded trains every day may be feeling depressed.

On the first day back to work, train platforms and trains tend to be crowded. Even though you're feeling refreshed and motivated to get back to work after the New Year holidays, the crowds can be exhausting.

It's dangerous if you continue to feel depressed!

Many people tend to feel depressed before starting work.

It's natural for humans to have mood swings, ups and downs.

However, it is a concern if you continue to feel depressed and unhappy even after work starts.

If left untreated, it can lead to full-blown depression.

Before that happens, reset your mood early.

Easy! 4 effective ways to reset your brain

So what steps can you take to reset your depressed mood?

When we think about the reasons for depression, they can be broadly divided into two categories: physical, such as the disruption of daily routine during vacation, and mental, such as feeling the hurdles of returning to the work environment.

Let's review the areas where you have become slack physically and mentally and improve your work performance!

Balance your food intake

Many of the dishes eaten during New Year's are extravagant, and overeating and drinking can put a strain on the stomach and intestines.

It is important to plan your meals in order to give your stomach and intestines a rest. If you have a party in the evening, have a light lunch, or if you overeat, eat less the next day and eat a diet that puts less strain on your stomach and intestines.

Get an effective sleep to relieve fatigue

If you're feeling tired and even though you slept a lot during the New Year holidays, you still end up feeling exhausted and unrefreshed, it's time to think about how you sleep.

First, if you want to get more sleep, go to bed earlier rather than waking up later. This will help keep your daily rhythm in check.

If you have trouble falling asleep at night, try taking a relaxing bath at least an hour before you want to go to bed.

It improves blood circulation and relieves fatigue, and also puts the autonomic nervous system into a parasympathetic state, allowing you to get quality sleep.

Mindfulness meditation for stress management

If you are feeling stressed due to your job, work environment, or commute, try incorporating mindfulness meditation. By concentrating on and observing the here and now while meditating, you will become aware of the presence of stress and have a relaxing effect.

It also improves memory, concentration, and decision-making ability, allowing you to think creatively, which can increase your motivation at work.

Exercise regulates the autonomic nervous system and improves performance

During the New Year holidays, our daily routines change and our autonomic nervous system tends to become unbalanced.

If you've been relaxing too much during your holidays and are feeling fatigued and unmotivated, it's possible that your parasympathetic nervous system is dominant even during the day.

Also, if you live a life where your day and night cycle is reversed, your sympathetic nervous system may be active at night. To prevent this, wake up at your usual time in the morning and do some exercise such as walking or strength training to wake up your body, and adjust your autonomic nervous system so that your sympathetic nervous system is dominant during the day.

Recommended songs for walking are here ▼

Walking Therapy ~ Serotonin Activation / Pecker

Here are some recommended songs to boost your sympathetic nervous system and increase your motivation for work:

"Music to regulate the autonomic nervous system and promote healthy activity"

summary

To blow away the blues of starting work again, reset your mind and body and start the year on the right foot!