The Holiday Is Over and It's Back to Work...
Seollal (Lunar New Year) break is over, and it's back to the daily grind. Was the holiday really a 'rest' for a dad with young kids? Honest thoughts on the first day back at work.
The Seollal (Lunar New Year) holiday is over.
Looking at the calendar, the words "already?" slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. About five days off, including the weekend. On paper, that's a decent break. But now that it's passed, it felt more like two days. Time only seems to move fast when you're resting.
And today, it's back to work.
Was the Holiday Really a "Rest"?
If I'm being honest, I can't confidently say this holiday was true rest.
Any parent with young kids will understand. A holiday also means the kids aren't at kindergarten. All that energy they usually burn off at school? During the break, it's all directed at you.
"Daddy, play with me." "Daddy, do this for me." "Daddy, I'm bored."
These three phrases were on constant repeat for the entire break. I don't mean to say that time with the kids isn't important. Of course it is, and seeing them laugh makes me happy. But physically, it's more exhausting than a day at the office. That's just the truth.
Going to the park, making meals, preparing snacks, playing again, bath time, bedtime. That's the entire day. By the end of the break, I felt a strange sense of relief knowing "tomorrow I go back to work." Honestly.
But the Holiday Had Its Own Special Quality
That said, the break wasn't without meaning. Regular paid leave and a national holiday are clearly different things.
When you take a personal day off, you're the only one resting. The world keeps moving, messages keep buzzing, and there's always that nagging worry: "what if something urgent comes up?" Your body is resting but your mind isn't. That's the limitation of personal leave.
During a national holiday, everyone is resting. Clients, colleagues, your boss — all off at the same time. The psychological relief that brings is bigger than you'd expect. Quiet messengers, no emails, nobody looking for you. During those moments, I was genuinely free from work stress.
So physically, I'm more tired after this break than before. But mentally, I definitely recharged. My body is tired, but my mind feels a little lighter.
Back to the Daily Grind
But now, it's reality again.
The alarm goes off, I get ready for work, drop the kids at kindergarten, and head to the office. That familiar routine I'd briefly forgotten during the break hit me all at once this morning. I know a pile of emails is waiting on my computer. A sigh comes first, but what can you do? This is the fate of an office worker.
If there's one consolation, it's knowing I'm not the only one feeling this way. I can see it on the faces of everyone on my commute. They all look the same — slightly dazed, still stuck in holiday mode. "I'm not alone in this" gives a strange sense of solidarity.
Alright, here we go again. Checking the calendar for the next long holiday is just an office worker's instinct at this point. With the next break to look forward to, I'll get through another day.
To everyone heading back to work after the holiday — hang in there.