10½ ways to make the adjustment back to work after vacation
How to make the adjustment back to work after vacation
1. Recognise it will take 2-3 days to get back in the groove
- What will you have scheduled in your diary on your immediate return?
You will need a day to read your emails and plan priorities effectively. - Why does your brain feel mashed and your body lethargic?
You cannot switch from one mode to another without consideration of both mind and body. - What is important and what can go in the pending file or binned?
Focus on the big things and accept that you will be slower in completing tasks at first.
2. Exercise, sleep and diet
- What routines did you adopt or break on holiday?
Get back on that mountain bike and cut back on the beer and wine. - How can you motivate yourself to develop good habits?
Create a scorecard to measure your gym attendance or number of times you run each week. - Do you feel it’s all too much?
Breakdown your goals into small achievable sub goals. Reward yourself for accomplishing tasks.
3. Get things done before you go away
- Have you returned to a cluttered desk?
You can avoid this by being disciplined and organised before you depart. - Have you delegated tasks that don’t need to be done by you?
Be prepared to lose some control and have more confidence in others. - Have you planned what needs to happen on your return?
Plan ahead to minimise forgetting activities when you are back in the office.
4. Keep your clients, colleagues and stakeholders in the picture
- Have you informed your key contacts of your vacation dates?
People are understanding if you show consideration for them and their situation. - Have you changed voicemail and automatic email responders?
It is very irritating to call someone and get a message that is out of date. - Have you made courteous calls?
When you are settled back call key contacts to express and interest and learn what has been happening.
5. Book your next break
- When do you plan to take your next holiday?
Long weekends, a golf or spa day or a day at the races will give you something to look forward to. - Have you planned work around holiday?
Holidays should be planned in your diary first and work fitted around. - What can you find out about new places to visit or things to do?
Talk to colleagues and show an interest in their holidays.
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