We all love holidays but the thought of returning to work makes us stressed and tired. “I don’t want to go to work!” we think over and over again… “I wish I could take another week off!” And yet this day comes and we experience sweet and sour feelings, a combination of pleasant memories of vacation along with a denial of the routine that awaits us. So here are 5 tips for a smooth return to work to put you in a pleasant and constructive mood.
Make a return plan
When you return from holiday, come up with a work plan for the first 1 to 2 weeks, which will include the individual tasks for the first time. This will help you to clear your obligations in your mind so that you are not stressed by thoughts of them.
Avoid excessive pressure
Try not to overload your schedule on the first day, thus putting too much pressure on yourself. Of course you may feel rested and energised after the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you have to exhaust yourself or work overtime. Do the reset slowly.
Think about what brings you joy in your work
Think of 3 things you love to do at work and focus on them. Enjoy the process.
What was the biggest lesson you learned from your holiday?
Think about what new things you have learned on your holiday that you could introduce into your work routine. This can be either a simple piece of information, an observation, an emotion or behaviour. For example, if you have strongly experienced an emotion such as gratitude, ask yourself how you could incorporate it into your work?
Use your imagination!
If things are tough and you’re feeling very anxious about your return, imagine that… you’re still on holiday! Enter the workplace, talk to colleagues as if you were still on leave and just came by to say hello. This approach will help you relax and reduce stress.
