When the Thought of Going Back to Work Feels Heavy

It’s Time to Reflect

I used to think it was normal.

Every time my holiday break was winding down, I’d feel this creeping sense of dread – the “Sunday Scaries” but amplified across days. It wasn’t just the end of relaxation or the looming inbox waiting for me. It was deeper than that. A quiet voice asking: “Do I really want to go back to this?”

For a long time, I brushed it off. I told myself, “Everyone feels this way after a break.” And while that’s true to an extent, I’ve come to realize that for many of us, that feeling is less about needing a longer vacation and more about needing a change.

Holidays Give Us Breathing Room

Time away from work often brings clarity. When the daily grind fades into the background, we reconnect with the parts of ourselves that get buried under deadlines and meetings. And sometimes, what bubbles up during that space is the realization that something’s misaligned.

Maybe it’s a mismatch between your values and your work.

Maybe it’s a desire for more growth – or less burnout.

Or maybe it’s the quiet knowing that you’ve outgrown your current role.

Reflection Doesn’t Have to Mean Drastic Action

Here’s the thing – feeling this way doesn’t mean you need to quit your job immediately or overhaul your career. But it does mean it’s worth exploring.

Ask yourself:

What exactly feels heavy about returning to work? Is it the environment, the tasks, the people, or something else?

What moments during your break made you feel most like yourself? Could there be clues in those experiences?

If you could design your ideal career, what parts of your current role would stay – and what would you leave behind?

Small Changes Can Create Big Shifts

Sometimes the answer is a career pivot. Other times, it’s about advocating for new opportunities where you are. And occasionally, it’s simply adjusting your mindset or setting better boundaries.

The key is to listen to what’s surfacing, without dismissing it as just post-holiday blues.

Let This Holiday Be a Starting Point

As the year winds down, take a moment to sit with those feelings – not as something to avoid, but as a compass pointing you toward what’s next.

Your career should energize you more than it drains you. And if it doesn’t, this might be the perfect time to start reimagining what’s possible.