Why is it hard to return to routine after the holidays? The answer is related to our brain

The article explains why returning to routine after the holidays is neurologically difficult: the brain quickly adapts to freedom, changing sleep hours, and fewer commitments, and the sharp transition back to fixed schedules requires effort. The article suggests starting with small tasks, building habits gradually, and not waiting for perfect motivation.

The article deals with the common difficulty of returning to routine after the holiday period, explaining it from a neurological and behavioral perspective. The holidays change the daily pace: waking up later, eating at different times, sleeping more, and having fewer commitments. The brain quickly adapts to this new, comfortable routine, so returning to fixed hours, schedules, and demanding tasks requires effort. One of the main challenges is the transition from activities that provide immediate reward (leisure, rest, favorite food) to tasks that require investment before seeing results. The brain, which conserves energy, tends to postpone complex or unpleasant tasks. The article suggests not trying to change everything in one day, but rather rebuilding the day through a few fixed actions such as a consistent wake-up time, organized meal times, and regular activity. The recommendation is to start with something small (organize a desk, take a short walk) and not wait for perfect motivation, since action itself creates readiness. The goal is not an immediate return to a perfect routine, but a gradual building of a sense of stability.