Why do I always get a cold when I go on annual leave? Does it happen to you?

[Nidan2Sandan]

Anyone else?

Seriously, happens every damn time. I had annual leave in Feb, June and now this week and every time I've gotten a cold. Sore throat, swollen glands, high temp and a general shakey, chilly feeling.

I'm next off at christmas so is really annoying that I wont be enjoying A/L again! I'm dosed up etc but so annoyed.

And I always get sick at Christmas, have done since I was a child.

I'm very much going to be in the mind over matter attitude as I have activities planned with the kids having worked all the summer holiday so far. But I'm fed up and grumpy.

It's a known thing. Something to do with cortisol levels which are high due to chronic stress. It induces a delayed immune response which happens only after cortisol (stress) levels reduce i.e. when you go on holiday.

Yes it is a real thing. The same thing happens to me. It's called leisure sickness.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leisure_sickness

I've got covid. I'm on holiday from work.

I wonder if that comes under the same thing?

That leisure sickness makes sense! My job is incredibly stressful so I guess it's the come down from the constant go go go of working life, school runs etc.

So, I suppose my mind over matter approach is probably a good one. Plus dosed up on every tablet I can get my hands on 🤣

My DM was ill every single Christmas for years and years. She'd take a fortnight off and spend the first 5 days shivering in bed. She said it was the best thing about retiring - actually being able to enjoy family events!

Yep. Currently on holiday abroad, sweating under a sun lounger with a bunged up nose, headache and sore throat that I must have caught on the plane. Absolutely dreading having to go back to work next week having wasted my break. So unfair.

I expect it's just covid, this other kind of illness seems to happen every holiday for me and I'm testing clear for covid.

Sorry you are feeling unwell, get better soon x

Yup, I sympathise with what your mum went through. My first day off is usually xmas eve, so I spend xmas day through NYD feeling like shit and recover just in time to go back to work.

I actually booked a few extra days off in Jan next year hoping for a cold free few days (also child free 😁)

Is there any way to stop this keep happening, short of retiring??

My doughter has a form - she managed to get Covid just for her birthday so we had to be in isolation, she was invited to her best friend party and she managed to fracture her collar bone so instead going to the party we went to A&E,
and this year just before holiday she had tonsilitis and antibiotics.

I'm a teacher. Haven't needed a day off sick for 15 years but every school holidays without fail I get some sort of virus/tonsillitis/ear infection.