Should business owners ever admit they hate coming back from holiday just as much as everyone else?

Do you know what I hate about coming back to work after a holiday? Everything. I hate the weather, I hate the early starts, I hate the commuting, I hate the air, I hate being inside, I hate having to make decisions... I basically hate all the things you have to do that you don't have to do on holiday (which was lovely, incidentally - thanks for asking).

But SD, why are you boring us with this self-indulgent whining, I hear you ask? Who doesn't find it hard getting back into the daily grind after a week in the sun? Tell us something we don't know, you may well scoff.

But the difference is, I think, that when you're in my position you feel almost duty-bound not to admit it. Every time I get back from holiday I lie through my teeth to people about how much I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things, possibly even suggesting that my typing fingers were getting twitchy towards the back end of my week away (I mean this metaphorically, of course - you don't really think I'd go away without my BlackBerry, do you?).

None of which is true, of course. But I feel as though I have an image to maintain. It's partly personal: if I want people to see me as a positive, driven, highly motivated leader, I can't afford to let that slip even for a second. But it's also corporate: I want people to think this office is such a great place to work that you'd have to be mad not to enjoy being there. In practice, of course, you can get sick of the sight of the place, and everyone in it. I know I do. But I feel like the MD's role in setting the atmosphere and culture is so crucial that I can't let up on the positivity for one minute. So even on those days (particularly common post-holiday) when I'd rather be anywhere else than in the office, I always feel as though I have to look and sound happy to be there. After all, if I'm not, why should anyone else be?

But I do find this pretence very wearing. And ironically, it also makes the problem worse: pretending not to hate coming back from holiday makes me hate coming back from holiday even more.

Now, maybe this is just me. Maybe it's just insecurity on my part. Maybe it would actually be better if I did admit to post-holiday blues, because my staff would find me more human and easier to relate to. I'd be interested to know your thoughts (secretdiary@managementtoday.com) - even if your advice is just to belt up, stop feeling sorry for myself, and accept that this is the price you pay for being in the big chair...