Speaking of May. How to avoid the May blues

It is May starting today.
The first word that came to mind when I heard May was the May blues.

I remembered how I used to pay attention to the new employees when I was still active in the workforce, so I would like to talk about it a little.

<What is the May blues?>

First of all, although it is called the May blues, it is not an official medical term, but a word that originated from a survey report published by the current Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in the 1960s.

New employees and first-year university students work hard to adapt to their new environments in April, and they accumulate stress due to tension.
This is a state where that tension is released during the long Golden Week holiday, and they feel unwell in both mind and body after the holidays end.

<What are the symptoms?>

Even if we call it feeling unwell, the symptoms vary.

Physically, it becomes difficult to fall asleep, sleep is insufficient, and you do not feel like you have slept.
Because of this, fatigue does not go away, and it becomes difficult to wake up in the morning.
Appetite also drops, and the amount you eat decreases.
Since the autonomic nervous system becomes disrupted, dizziness may also occur.

Mentally, your mood drops, and nothing you do feels fun anymore.
Then, you lose the energy to do anything, and you lack concentration.
You also start to feel irritated with yourself.

When it gets to that point, you start to not want to go to work or school, and you start to not want to meet anyone.
Mistakes also increase, and there are times when you end up causing trouble for those around you.

<Why does it happen?>

Why do such things happen?

The biggest reason is stress regarding a new living environment.

Human relationships at a new workplace or school, adaptation to work or study content, and changes in daily rhythm are completely different from what they were before.
In the meantime, you start to worry as you face the gap between your ideals and reality, such as "not being able to fit into the workplace," "not being able to learn the work as expected," or "not being able to produce the expected results."
This happens because the thread of tension snaps during the long Golden Week holiday, and after the holidays, the pressure and mental burden of having to return to the daily routine and "having to do my best again" set in.

<What kind of people are prone to it?>

Medically, it is a type of adjustment disorder, and it is by no means a "laziness disease" or "lack of willpower," but rather something that is more likely to happen to people who have worked hard, not weak people.

People who tend to feel anxious about changes in their environment, react sensitively to someone's casual words, are too considerate of others, keep their worries to themselves, or are perfectionists who cannot forgive themselves, tend to be more susceptible to it.

<How can you prevent it?>

So, what should you do to avoid the May blues?

First, it is to rest your mind and body well.

You should soak slowly in lukewarm water at a set time every day and get enough sleep.
It is also good to relax and loosen your tension by stretching or taking deep breaths while at work.
Eat a balanced diet so that it does not become biased, and make sure to wake up properly and eat in the morning.
It is also good to try to consciously increase the distance you walk.
If you have worries, feel free to consult with your family or someone you trust.

<What to do if you get it>

Even if you are careful, what should you do if you end up with it?

Just like with prevention, the first step is to rest your mind and body.

Take some time off and get plenty of rest.
Try talking to someone about your worries.
Also, if someone around you comes to you for advice, don't deny their feelings or try to force them to cheer up; instead, start by accepting what they have to say.

<Things I was careful about>

When new employees joined, I made it a point to check their expressions every day when they arrived at work, especially during the first few months. If they looked different than usual or seemed tired, I would ask, "Are you okay?" and make sure to tell them, "Feel free to talk to me if anything comes up."

I think it is important for the person themselves not to push too hard or blame themselves, and for those around them to watch over their growth with a long-term perspective.

Thank you for reading this far. I would be happy if you could like or follow me. I look forward to your continued support.

#LetsTalkAboutWork