Feeling the urge to sleep during vacation? Psychologist warns it could be a bad sign

Many people experience a persistent feeling of exhaustion and sleepiness during the initial days of their vacation, a phenomenon that psychologist U. Juodytė attributes to deeper issues with work-life balance and recovery throughout the year. "The fact that it takes several days to disconnect is normal – the nervous system does not switch instantly just because we turn on the answering machine in our email. The first days of vacation are often dedicated to switching gears, as we return to unfinished tasks in our minds, check messages, and find it harder to enter a rest rhythm," Juodytė explained.

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The fact that it takes several days to disconnect is normal – the nervous system does not switch instantly just because we turn on the answering machine in our email. The first days of vacation are often dedicated to switching gears, as we return to unfinished tasks in our minds, check messages, and find it harder to enter a rest rhythm.

However, she cautioned that this prolonged transition period can signal underlying problems. "These data together raise questions about the quality of work and rest throughout the year. They can signal accumulated fatigue, insufficient daily recovery, and an excessive workload," she stated. Juodytė elaborated that intense work leads to psychophysiological activation, which should normally subside after work. If the workload, stress, or availability continues for extended periods, full recovery does not occur. Consequently, during the first vacation days, individuals may experience sleep deprivation, physical tension, emotional exhaustion, or attention fatigue. "While we had to work, the body mobilized; when the workload decreases, that's when the fatigue is felt," she added.

The psychologist further noted that the problem is exacerbated by a lack of genuine rest in daily life. "When there is almost no time in the day without attention-demanding stimuli, the psyche and body remain in a state of constant alertness and reaction. This condition eventually becomes the norm, making it difficult for a person to reduce internal tension, let go of control, or stop returning to their commitments mentally, even when opportunities for rest arise. It seems to me that vacation simply highlights this problem," Juodytė said.

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These data together raise questions about the quality of work and rest throughout the year. They can signal accumulated fatigue, insufficient daily recovery, and an excessive workload.

To mitigate this, Juodytė advises preparing for vacation by not only planning the trip but also by completing tasks. "A few days before the vacation, it is worth writing down the most important unfinished tasks, handing over responsibilities, agreeing on realistic deadlines, and clearly informing the team when you will be unavailable. This reduces the so-called cognitive effect of open loops. Digital boundaries are also important – turn off work group notifications, remove work email from easily accessible places, or agree that you will only be contacted in exceptional cases," she recommended.

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While we had to work, the body mobilized; when the workload decreases, that's when the fatigue is felt.

Deimantė Astrauskė, head of the business unit at "Alliance for Recruitment," noted that employers' attitudes toward employee rest have shifted significantly. "A few years ago, the issue of employee well-being was raised much less frequently, but today it is becoming a matter of business sustainability. Employers increasingly understand that a constantly tired or burnt-out employee is not productive, creative, or engaged. Especially after the pandemic, more organizations have started paying attention to work-life balance, emotional health, and the quality of rest," she said. Astrauskė believes this focus on well-being is crucial for maintaining a productive and healthy workforce.

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When there is almost no time in the day without attention-demanding stimuli, the psyche and body remain in a state of constant alertness and reaction. This condition eventually becomes the norm, making it difficult for a person to reduce internal tension, let go of control, or stop returning to their commitments mentally, even when opportunities for rest arise. It seems to me that vacation simply highlights this problem.