Round Table China

Is post-Chinese New Year syndrome a thing?

13 snips
Feb 24, 2026
They explore the post-holiday slowdown after Spring Festival and common symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. Personal return-to-work stories highlight disrupted routines, late nights and overeating. Conversation covers biological effects like sleep shifts, cortisol rebound and leisure sickness. Practical pacing and sleep strategies for easing back into work are also discussed.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Post Holiday Syndrome Is Real

  • Post-holiday syndrome is a real psychological and physical state after long breaks when body and brain must readjust to work.
  • Symptoms include fatigue, lack of motivation, and difficulty concentrating described by Steve Hatherly during diagnosis of the group.
ANECDOTE

Spring Festival Late Nights And Mahjong Stories

  • Fei Fei and Yu Shan describe Spring Festival habits: nine-day holiday, late nights, feasting, and playing mahjong into the early hours.
  • Fei Fei recalled family mahjong sessions and waking at 3 a.m., while Steve admitted once waking at 1 p.m. after late-night Olympics games.
INSIGHT

Why Vacations Can Make You Suddenly Sick

  • Leisure sickness happens when stress hormones fall during vacation and suppressed symptoms rebound as flu-like illness.
  • Yu Shan and Steve explained cortisol/adrenaline suppress inflammation at work, then drop during rest causing fever, sore throat, and aches.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app