How to get back in the swing of things after a long holiday

by Kimberley Leo
Thu, 02/02/2017 - 09:50

The Christmas decorations have finally been taken down in the malls. The after holiday sales are over and you’ve had to pack away the Christmas tree. You’ve been back at work for more than a month and can no longer blame your silly mistakes on the ‘holiday brain’.

Getting back from a long holiday is hard, but luckily there are some strategies you can use to get yourself back in the swing of things. Hold onto your hats, we’re about to get productive.

Don’t tackle all your work at once

Even though you’re a month in, you can still feel overwhelmed by the pile of work you need to get to. The December emails still haunt your inbox and you feel like you will never get to the end of your mammoth to-do list. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with your workload, take one step at a time with your tasks. Make a list of the things you need to do, prioritise them and work your way down the list. Don’t worry about moving the less important things until tomorrow. There are only so many hours in a day.

Don’t fix what ain’t broken

Giving up your beach attire is hard enough. Don’t attempt to work in a way that’s different or unfamiliar. Attempt to resume your regular routine. That way your natural work rhythm can fall back into place and you can feel more like your work-self again. Do you usually start your day with a cup of coffee? A revision of yesterday’s tasks? Or a quick catch up with your work colleague so you can sympathise with each other? Don’t fix what ain’t broken. If it was working for you last year, let it work for you this year. Reassess what works, get rid of what doesn’t and let 2017 be a year of working smarter not harder.

Perhaps 2017 is the year for that work-life balance?

Did you love how you felt on holiday? Were you relaxed and rejuvenated? Perhaps 2017 is the year of striking that work-life balance. A work-life balance is a lifestyle choice where you include proper prioritising between "work" (career and ambition) and "lifestyle" (health, pleasure, leisure and family). Think about 2017 as a new year to find the right balance between working hard while enjoying yourself. Be strict about your personal time and be sure to plan things you look forward to after work. You can’t work until 8 if your movie starts at 7, can you?

Embrace the post-holiday blues

Now if those strategies don’t work for you, then perhaps you should simply embrace those blues. There is no shame in the sadness that surrounds the end of an amazing holiday. We have all been there. Staring at our emails reminiscing about the cocktails, movies and days where you were simply in your pyjamas. Instead of succumbing to the melancholy, be prepared for the fact that you may feel that sadness. Be sure to take extra care of yourself as you ease back into your work routine. Bring a candle that reminds you of your holiday. Go for a sneaky midweek movie or start that yoga class you’ve been dying to try.

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