The approaching holiday feels stressful – What can help?

According to occupational health psychologist Annamari Heikkilä, transitions like holidays often stir up a lot of emotions—and even anxiety. Holiday-related anxiety is most common before long summer vacations.

“People often place unrealistic expectations on the holiday. When those expectations don't match reality, disappointment is inevitable,” Heikkilä explains.

Feeling anxious about holidays is also linked to a typically Finnish tendency toward performance-driven behavior, where simply "being" can feel difficult.

“Performance-oriented individuals are more prone to applying the same mindset to their free time—rigid plans and packed schedules. But it's worth asking yourself whether that’s really the best way for you to recover from work,” Heikkilä says.

You shouldn’t think that feelings of anxiety must simply be eliminated, because uncomfortable emotions are part of life. It’s more important to accept those feelings and try to understand what’s behind them.

“Anxiety is a signal that there are expectations. For example, one might hope life would be different from how it’s been over the past year. It's good to pause and reflect: is the anxiety more about holiday expectations or about dissatisfaction with your work?”

A holiday is for rest, not remote work

Work life has become more flexible and fragmented, and it’s especially hard for people in leadership roles to separate work from free time. Still, your own mindset plays a major role in your well-being.

“The idea that everything must be wrapped up before Midsummer is outdated—and in today’s working world, it's simply not possible. It’s worth softening that all-or-nothing thinking, because psychological distress is often tied to black-and-white thinking,” Heikkilä says.

People who can approach work life with flexibility tend not to get overwhelmed by answering an occasional email or call during vacation.

“If work is a meaningful part of your life and gives you energy, briefly thinking about work during your holiday might not be harmful. In fact, relaxing can lead to good ideas—it can be inspiring.”

Heikkilä doesn’t encourage people to work during their holidays, since the primary purpose of time off is to recover.

“It’s important for work communities to agree on respecting each other’s vacations. Before disturbing someone on holiday, ask yourself whether the situation truly requires that specific person’s knowledge or skills. If not, it should be resolved in another way,” Heikkilä emphasizes.

You can’t recover from work stress by just lying around

It’s important to spend your vacation doing things that feel meaningful and bring you joy.

“Some people enjoy making plans in advance, while others benefit more from ditching the clock and calendar altogether. Even during summer vacation, it’s worth thinking about what brings you joy and what activities you can truly focus on.”