But when going back to work feels like you need another holiday, you’ve got a problem on your hands.
You’re not alone! So many people dread the return to work after a holiday. And now that work is home and home is work, it might be more challenging because there isn’t a physical change of space to flip the switch from “holiday” to “work” mode.
But what if we tell you there are some simple ways to ease your transition and keep that post-holiday glow going for longer?
Get an early start
If you want to ease back into work, you’ve got to prepare.
Get to bed early the night before, and get in a little early, that will mitigate the workload avalanche and give you a head start.
Don’t stretch yourself thin
Don’t schedule a ton of meetings and deadlines during your first day back. That’ll just leave you feeling overwhelmed and behind on your work.
Ideally, try and keep your first day back schedule-free from any meetings or appointments, keep it as open as possible so that you have the entire day free to catch up and not feel overwhelmed.
Take several minutes to plan your day before diving in, focus on priorities, and don’t be afraid to ask for support.
Get caught up
Before diving back in to individual emails and projects, it’s important to get a broad idea of how things were while you were gone.
Figure out if there were any major events or changes that occurred. This way, you’ll be generally up to speed before diving in deep into the day-to day details of your work.
Don’t get lost in your inbox
Beware of spending too much time responding to the emails you missed while you were out.
It’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of responding to every email without considering whether it’s the best use of your time on the first day back. Don’t confuse email activity with productive work, so be strategic and only respond to emails that are time sensitive.
Check in with your team and customers
Now that you’re back, it’s a good idea to touch base with your boss and colleagues to let them know what you’re working on.
You should also connect with your best clients. Take the time to connect with one or two clients to let them know they’re top of mind with you and that you’re back if they need anything. It’s a simple customer service touch point that can make a big impression.
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