Times Of TIU

Writer: Rikio Y.
Editor: Jonathan S.

In the beginning of the semester, you are determined to attend each class 5 minutes early, take notes of each lecture, and submit your work one day before the deadline. However, by the time May comes, you start to get the May blues – you start coming late to class, you stop taking notes, and you miss the deadline for your assignments. So what are the May blues? May blues is what people in Japan call a mild depression or emotional slump after just starting the year, after a long winter break. However, this type of thing does not only happen in Japan but also everywhere else, and even at different times of the year. 

As said earlier, Japan’s May blues – or “Gogatsu-byou,” which translates to May sickness is when reality starts to set in a month after starting work or school. This usually happens from the beginning of May and can often feel stressful and tiring for many people. A solution to this that people in Japan often use is taking the Golden Week Holiday, which happens in Early May, as an emotional reset. 

In France, they have something similar, but they call it “Back to School Syndrome” or in French, “Syndrome de la Rentrée”. This happens in September after their long summer break, when they have to transition from vacation mode back into a routine. A solution they use is “La Rentrée Culturelle,” which is when they embrace September as a time for new books, films, and concerts. 

The United States of America is no different than any other country. They receive the same thing, but in the month of January, after the winter break of celebrating the holidays. The low mood is often because of returning to work and financial stress from spending a lot in the Winter season. Surprisingly, the way people in America deal with this stress is by doing retail therapy by shopping the post-holiday sales. 

China experiences emotional exhaustion after the Chinese New Year celebrations, full of fireworks, parties, and family get-togethers, which happen in late February through early March. In China, they have many traditional Chinese medicines such as herbal teas, acupuncture, and tonics to boost their “qi” and reduce fatigue. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that affects Canada from the lack of sunlight in the cold months of November through February. However, in Canada, they often start using sunrise-simulating alarm clocks and light therapy lamps as a common household item. 

Post-holiday slumps are not only in one country but a universal experience that shows up in different ways and at different times of the year. Whether it’s Japan’s May Blues, France’s Back to School Syndrome, or Canada’s Winter SAD, people everywhere have to face challenges to adjust back to their routine after a long vacation or break. The interesting thing is however, is that each country has its way of dealing with this problem. Japan waits for Golden Week, America uses retail therapy, and Canada uses technology. By recognizing that these problems exist, we can build methods that can personally help us push through each year after our relaxing vacation.