Vacation Debilitation: Leisure Sickness and How to Avoid It

By Grace Wang and Dr. Chris E. Stout

How many holiday meals have you had to skip because you were sick in bed? How many times have you gone on vacation, only to wake up in the hotel the next morning feeling like you got hit by the bus that brought you there? You’re finally using that PTO, you can finally relax with your spouse, play with your kids, or hang out with your friends…but instead, you’re shivering under a heap of blankets, surrounded by crumpled tissues, used dishes, and a puke bucket.

While there are no known medical studies on this phenomenon, Ad Vingerhoets, a Dutch psychologist, coined a name for it: leisure sickness. It’s not an official diagnosis, but many claim to suffer from it on a regular basis. So what can leisure sickness be attributed to? Bad luck? Pure coincidence? Consider the following possibilities:

• Travel. Whether you’re off to the Bahamas or flying home for the holidays, mass transportation contributes to the transmission of germs and illnesses.  Viruses like influenza and the common cold are believed to spread via coughs, sneezes, or contact. Even if your body has built up antibodies all year round, your immune system doesn’t help too much in an airport, where all kinds of viruses from all over the world intermingle.

And then there’s the germophobe’s worst nightmare: the aircraft cabin. Close contact with strangers, limited airflow, and low-humidity are a dangerous trio for those of us who prefer not to spend our vacation with a head cold. Anyone within a two-seat radius of an infected passenger – to the front, to the back, or to the side – is at a greater risk of catching the bug.

• It’s just that time of year. Most people think of November and December as a few weeks to relax, take a break from work, and spend time with family. What they don’t think about is that their “down time” is the flu’s busiest time of year. While influenza activity peaks in February, it starts as early as November – just in time for that holiday dinner party or that gift exchange you’ve been planning.

• Stressful Work. Want to know how to make your already stressful job even more stressful? Take time off. That way, in the days leading up to your PTO, you can have three times as many meetings and work overtime every day of the week just so you won’t be behind when you get back.

But consider your body’s response. At work, adrenaline kicks in – you have never been more productive! Sure, you’re dead tired, but you can’t stop now! You’re on a roll!

Then you get home. Your adrenaline is gone, and your body knows it. It doesn’t care that you promised you’d take your kids to the movies. It doesn’t care that your friends are making gingerbread houses. It wants to do one thing with your break: repair and restore. And so you get sick.

Leisure sickness is a warning. It could mean that your life is out of balance. Reconsider and reprioritize how you spend your time – maybe you work too much and need less time on your device and more time sleeping, exercising, or enjoying a hobby.

Aside from that, be sure to practice healthy habits. Be sure to hydrate, especially when flying. Wash your hands often, especially after being out in public, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Maintain a healthy work-life balance. The Vice President of Human Resources at ATI Physical Therapy says,

“Managing life balance appropriately is vital for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Work is a part of life but when it consumes you, your stress levels soar, leaving you emotionally and physically drained.  In order to avoid fatigue, reduce stress, and spend time with loved ones, we encourage our employees to take advantage of the time off we provide and to practice healthy habits.”

By relaxing during your working life, making time for sleep, and maintaining proper hygiene, vacation and the holidays won’t come as such a shock to your body and you’ll be able to enjoy them in full health.