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5 ways to recover from travel fatigue
You must have probably heard of jet lag, a physiological condition that occurs after long-haul flights, usually when traveling east. Jet lag is caused by the de-synchronization of our body clock (or our circadian rhythm, to use the medical term). Symptoms may include sleep disturbance, reduced concentration, irritability, headaches, problems with digestion, and fatigue. Perhaps the term ‘travel fatigue’ is not as familiar; yet, you may be more likely to experience this less specific concept. Travel fatigue can, of course, occur after long-haul flights; however, it can also follow a short-haul one, or a long train or car journey. It can essentially occur during or after any journey or holiday,…
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10 tips to beat those post-holiday blues
The summer has now officially come to an end, and for most of us the holidays are over. Every time I return home (and back to work) from holidays (no matter how short or long), my mood and energy levels take a dip. Here are 10 tips that help me lift up my mood, beat those post-holiday blues, and get back on track as soon as possible: Tip 1: Routines and structure As a Psychiatrist, I cannot overemphasize the importance of having routines and a structure to one’s life. For this reason, I always encourage people to have routines and a structure to their days and weeks. Routines and…
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Hygge, Lagom & Lykke: 10 books about Scandi happiness
Denmark, Norway, Finland. According to the United Nations World Happiness Report that gets published every year, the Nordic countries are thought to be the happiest on Earth. Controversial as this may be, the Nordic countries do score highly on six key variables associated with happiness: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity. One may argue that it is the social welfare system in these countries that allows them to score so high and top the list of happiness. Yet, I think there may be something more… Could hygge be the answer? Or lagom perhaps? The Scandinavian word ‘hygge’ has recently entered the English language. Defined as ‘the practice…