時尚雙語:放假比上班更辛苦

【中英文對照】

For most of us, the purpose of the holidays is to bring peace, love, and goodwill towards all. Yet, for many, the holiday season often means stress, fatigue, pressure, disappointment and loneliness.
對我們大多數人來說，休假的目的是爲獲得清靜、關愛和友善，但是對很多人來說，假日卻常常意味着緊張、疲倦、壓力、失望和孤寂。

These feelings, often known as the "holiday blues," may be even more prevalent, due to the emotional turmoil of the past few months, not to mention the unsteady economy.
且不說變化不定的經濟，過去幾個月來情感上的波折就可能使這種被稱爲“假日憂傷”的情感更爲普遍。

Experts say even the more ritual tasks of shopping, decorating, late-night parties, cooking, planning and family reunions can be holiday stressors. 　
專家說，甚至購物、佈置房間、深夜晚會、做飯、計劃和家庭團聚這種人們習以爲常的事，都可能成爲假日緊張的因素。

In addition, the psychological phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, may bring a specific type of depression related to winter's shorter days and longer nights. 　
此外，季節情感紊亂症或稱SAD的心理現象也可能導致一種與冬季晝短夜長有關的特殊類型的抑鬱。

"Certainly just because it's the holidays doesn't mean people are going to be happy," says Dr. Doug Jacobs of Harvard University. "And this will be a particularly hard holiday for some who are dealing with a lost job, debt, or even a lost loved one." 　
哈佛大學的Doug Jacobs博士說：“當然，假日並不意味着大家都會很開心。對於那些正在應付失業、債務問題、甚至失去親人的人來說，假期將尤其難熬。”

And with family reunions becoming less frequent events over the years, there is now the added pressure of getting just one chance to get it all right. "Families are much more disparate now. The disappointment and sense of alienation that often results from family gatherings, is actually a realization that the fantasy is not met." says John Stutesman, a clinical psychologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
近年來，隨着家庭團聚的減少，舉辦一個恰到好處的家庭聚會的壓力也更大。芝加哥西北紀念醫院的臨牀心理學家John Stutesman說，“現在的家庭是截然不同的，人們在家庭聚會中感到失望、疏遠，實際上他們已認識到幻想不能實現”。

Still, say experts, the blues should be addressed. The most essential step, says Stutesman, is for the individual to acknowledge their feelings and the reason for their withdrawal. "Denial will only compound the stress they're feeling." 　專家們說，針對假日憂傷人們還是應該採取措施。Stutesman說，最根本的措施是人們應承認他們的感受和消沉的原因。他說：“否認只會加重其緊張情緒。”

Stutesman recommends people do things that are normally comforting in order to get a handle on the holiday stress. "If they're feeling a little blue, they should try to do things personally satisfying for them. Maybe this is exercise, cooking, reading a book, or massage." 　
Stutesman建議人們做一些通常令人寬慰的事來對付假日緊張情緒，如果感到有些憂傷，應去做一些自覺愜意的事情，如鍛鍊、烹調、讀書或按摩。

Stutesman also advises that sometimes "avoidance is actually not such a bad idea." In some situations, fulfilling social obligations may be self-destructive when the best thing may be to just stay home. "The healthy choice has to do with taking care of oneself." 　
他還建議說，有時“躲避其實也不是一個壞主意”。在某些情況下，最好的做法就是待在家中，履行社會義務反而會是自尋煩惱。健康的選擇應該是照顧好自己。

【詞彙講解】

1. fatigue n.疲勞，勞累

The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.
這位老婦人不能忍受長途旅行的疲勞。

2. prevalent adj.普遍的，盛行的，流行的

The habit of travelling by aeroplane is becoming more prevalent.
乘飛機旅行的習慣變得越來越盛行了。

3. turmoil n.混亂

The robbery put the village in a turmoil.
搶劫使全村陷入混亂。

4. ritual n.例行公事，老規矩

Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.
這部落的許多風俗、儀式都極其古老。

5. alienation n.疏遠，轉讓

Alcoholism often leads to the alienation of family and friends.
酗酒常常導致家庭和朋友間的疏遠。

6. compound 使嚴重；使惡化

The heavy rain compounded the trouble of the lost hikers.
大雨增加了迷路的徒步旅行者們的困難。