Obon is over, but are your sleep habits back to normal?

For many of us living and working in Japan, Obon is one of the biggest breaks of the year. It's a welcome chance to slow down, travel, spend time with family, or simply catch up on sleep, but a new survey suggests that getting back to normal afterwards may be easier said than done.

A survey of 200 working adults across Japan found that 50.5% woke up later than usual during the long holiday, with staying up late the most common change in sleeping habits. Almost one in five respondents said their usual routine remained pretty much unchanged, but others reported spending more time watching smartphones or videos at night, taking naps, or even sleeping until close to midday.

That shift appears to have caught up with people once work resumed. A very significant 73.5% said they experienced some kind of discomfort after the holiday. Difficulty getting up in the morning was the most common complaint, followed closely by feeling sluggish or heavy and experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness.

Getting back on track also wasn't necessarily an overnight process. While 34.5% said their routine returned to normal within two or three days, 30% said it had either not returned to normal yet or took around a week.

So, what's the solution? Going to bed earlier was the most popular strategy, while some respondents turned to light exercise and getting morning sunlight. The survey's findings suggest that a little consistency, particularly that morning light, could help reset the body clock after a long holiday.

Do you have any go-to strategies for getting back in a routine after a holiday break?