After enjoying a well-deserved break, the prospect of getting back to work might seem daunting.
The transition from relaxing on holiday to getting back into professional work mode can be challenging, but fear not! Apply the right strategies and mindset and you can seamlessly reengage with your work and regain your productivity momentum without getting overwhelmed.
Here are a few actionable steps to help you get back on track after a
break, so you transition smoothly and hit the ground running, without falling back into old, pre-holiday habits.
Reflect and Reset
Time away from work can be an ideal opportunity to reset and think about how you want to do things differently when you get back to work.
Before heading back to work, take a moment to reflect on your goals and priorities. What do you want to change to improve the way you work, reduce your stress or give you more time off?
This can include re-enforcing boundaries (start/finish times) or being more in
control of your priorities.
Review your to-do list and assess any pending projects. Use this time to reevaluate your objectives and reprioritise tasks based on their urgency and importance.
Plan Your Return
Avoid overloading your first day back, especially with any meetings. At least not for the morning. Ideally this will have been planned ‘before’ you left on holiday.
Create a plan for your first few days back and review what’s on your schedule for this week and what’s coming up. Outline the tasks you need to
accomplish and allocate time blocks for each.
Having a structured plan in place will help you focus on one task at a time and prevent feeling overwhelmed. If you already have a good structure for your week, this will already be in place when you get back to work.
First Things First
Give yourself time to settle back in and get up to date with planning your week, prioritising your tasks, reviewing email and checking in with your team.
Arrange brief update meetings for a catch-up, hand-back, project
review if this helps you get back on track quicker and more easily. A brief conversation is often quicker and more effective than reading through email threads that are out of date.
Reconnect with your colleagues to catch up on any developments or changes that occurred while you were away. Building good connections creates a positive work environment.
Resist the temptation to jump right in and tackle the first task that comes up. There may well be multiple demands on you as soon as you get back to work but Stop! Think. Plan.
Begin with a few easier tasks that require minimal effort but still enable you to make progress.
Completing these smaller tasks builds a sense of accomplishment and provide a smooth reentry into your work routine.
Clear Your Inbox and Messages!
Often the thing people dread most on their return, an overflowing Inbox or hundreds of Messages!
Start with a brief initial scan to check what needs to be dealt with, deferred, delegated or simply filed away, deleted or ignored. Respond to any urgent emails and categorise others for follow-up.
Good systems and processes around how you manage and organise your
email and an appropriate Out of Office message may have already dealt with most of these.
If you have a backlog, tackle it a little at a time over the week. Don’t get caught up in the detail or spend too long in your Inbox at the expense of more important work.
A calm relaxed return to work without being launched straight back in to the hectic hustle and bustle, might seem like a pipe dream but it can happen with planning and forethought. And good systems, processes and habits!
If you’ve decided to change or do things differently, stick with it. Don’t negate the positive benefits of taking a break
only to fall back into your old habits within a few days.
Stay positive, find your rhythm and gradually build momentum as you settle back into work. With the right mindset and proactive approach, you'll be back on track and accomplishing your goals in no time.
Apply the same strategies whenever you’ve been away from work. Whether is your annual holiday, a weekend break or travelling for business.
