In
Japan, April marks the start of a new school year as well as the beginning of a
fiscal year. It is a time when students
and fresh recruits put in their best to have a good start and adapt to the
changes in the environment. This
culminates in the Golden Week which is a stretch of public holidays from the
end of April to the beginning of May (April 29-Showa
Day昭和の日Shōwa no hi, May 3- Constitution Memorial Day 憲法記念日Kenpō kinenbi, May 4-Greenery Day 緑の日, Midori no hi and
May 5-Children's Day子供の日, Kodomo no hi).
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The stress
accumulated from coping with a new lifestyle and environment, differences
between expectations and reality, and the long break during the Golden Week
give rise to “Gogatsubyou (五月病)”. “Gogatsubyou” literally translates into
“May sickness” and is not a medical condition but rather a myriad of
conditions including apathy, listlessness, tiredness and even depression,
suffered upon returning to school or work after the end of the Golden Week.
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To avoid suffering from “Gogatsubyou”, one
should try to reduce stress built up during the month of April. Some common measures to counter “Gogatsubyou”
are:
- Talking to your friends and family instead of keeping your worries and anxieties to yourself.
- Keeping a healthy lifestyle and diet. Getting enough sleep, exercise and eating well are crucial in staying healthy during stressful times.
- Taking time to reflect on the changes and challenges to keep yourself on track. Do not get so caught up in everything that you lose your own perspective.
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