Got the Post Holiday Blues?

Are you finding it hard to get back into the work game after the holiday season? If so, you’re not alone!

Now don’t get me wrong, holidays can be excellent breaks away from work to gain rest and allows us to spent valuable time with family and friends. However, when the holiday season is over and it’s time to get back to work, many people (including myself) experience mix emotions that make it a little more challenging to transition from festive fun to the daily grind.

Reality is – businesses has also had their time to recharge and now is the time when businesses start to pick up and so our productivity will also need to be too. Here are some tips to help you ease back into the swing of it:

Be Realistic

Plan an easy first day back, don’t overwhelm yourself with too many tasks and unrealistic deadlines. Give yourself time to adjust and prioritise your tasks. Create a to-do list, start with the most urgent and important ones and work your way down, challenge yourself as you get more comfortable but remember - give yourself some breathing space, you might also want to consider dropping out of meetings that is not urgent.

Be Organised

Having a regular schedule can help you establish a rhythm and structure for your workday. Before you dive into your work routine and responsibilities, consider organising both work and personal life to minimise distractions, allowing you to focus on your tasks and activities. If you are in a role that receive emails regularly, it’s highly likely that you will be returning to an abundance of emails and that alone can be overwhelming - therefore organising your inbox is crucial to get back into the working game, what I found helpful is to sort out the inbox!

There are different techniques of sorting through large amounts of emails - you can review each email by date, inbox type or email size. I usually review emails by senders, which can help identify urgent emails first.

Be Social

Reconnect with others – catch up with your colleagues, clients, business partners and have a regular conversation, share your holidays stories or you can also use that opportunity ask them for updates on any projects or issues that you missed while you were away. This will help you rebuild your rapport and teamwork. If you’re in a role that is tricky to meet face to face – you can try join online communities or groups that share your interests or goals, and network with like-minded people.

Remember, work doesn’t have to be boring. Find ways to make your work enjoyable and creative. Perhaps try something new or learn a new skill that will enhance your work performance or personal growth.

Be Intentional 

Set your objectives for the coming weeks. Review your goals prior to your holidays to assess your progress and set expectations for new ones. If you don’t have any goals prior, have a think about setting achievable goals and targets that you can reach in the coming weeks. By having goals and objectives in place, this will help give you a sense of control, improve motivation to retain drive and clarity.

Be Kind to Yourself

Don't beat yourself up if you feel sluggish, distracted, or overwhelmed. It's normal to have some post-holiday blues. Remember that you're not alone and that this feeling will pass. Focus on the positive aspects of your work and be grateful for the opportunity to do what you do. Celebrate your achievements and milestones, no matter how big or small. Treat yourself to something you enjoy such as a coffee break, a walk, a movie night, a new book or plan your next holiday. This can boost your morale and energy levels 😉

Hope you find at least one helpful tip to hit the ground running on your first day back to work.

Remember, one step at a time to ease in and regain your confidence and momentum.

You got this!