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Finding First Gear – Returning to Work after a Holiday

Posted 16 Aug 2010 - 2 Gratefully received comments

Do you remember that feeling of waking up on the first morning of a new school term? The anxious lethargy that accompanied the fact that the holidays were over and it was time to get back to work. I don’t get that anymore, but that doesn’t mean going back to work isn’t a struggle.

I generally accept the fact that I’m a bit of an odd person. I had a great holiday, but I struggled to let go. Admittedly I stuck to the terms I set out for myself when I planned the break, but I couldn’t quite let go mentally.
I may not have physically completed any work, but I got quite a bit done in my head.

I wouldn’t say that this spoiled my holiday, but it certainly would have been nice to let go completely. I managed to turn my phone off, and I didn’t power up my computer more than once a day, but I didn’t manage to turn off that part of my brain. If anyone knows how to do that, let me know!

There is one advantage to not being able to completely detach myself. I’m ready and raring to go on my return to work.
While trying to relax and enjoy my time off my brain has been scheming away, planning and preparing a huge to-do list for when I sit down to work again.

I accept that I might be in the minority in this respect. Most people still get that first day of school feeling when going back to work after a holiday.

Even though I’m pretty happy to return to work, there are a few things I do that makes the process even easier:

Reinforce your routine
Try to reset your body a few days before gong back to work. My holiday consisted of plenty of late nights, and long lay-ins, so I try to return to my usual sleep pattern to make it easier to get up on that first day of work.

Give yourself a treat
Make sure you’ve lined up a project that you really like on your return. If this isn’t possible make sure you have something fun to do on that first morning back. Perhaps a client meeting with someone you get on well with.
Even if it’s as simple as making a small departure in your usual routine it will help. Perhaps you could take a break and get a cup of coffee?

Don’t demand too much
Start off small, if you can’t line up a project you are excited about, bed yourself back into work by getting some mindless organisation done. Catch up on your admin, your accounts or your system updates.
Getting myself organised always makes me more comfortable and ready to start work in earnest.

Set Sensible Goals
The best first step on returning to work is to write down a comprehensive to do list. Even better write it out on a large whiteboard and have in your your line of sight. Establishing firm goals is an excellent motivating factor.

Don’t overdo it
Under no circumstances should you work long hours on your first day back! You may have lots to do but it will not be productive burning yourself out on the first day you return to work. You need to pace yourself and immerse yourself in your workflow steadily.

I’m posting this article on my first day back to work, and I consider myself lucky that I don’t dread getting back into the swing of things. Of course work can be taxing at times, and there are moments where we all wish for something better. The one thing I realise everytime I return to work is how lucky I am to have a job that, generally, I enjoy.
It reminds me of that saying: “If you do something you love for a living you’ll never work a day in your life.”

I’d like to hear your thoughts, do you struggle to get back to work? Can you take it in your stride? Is there anything you do that makes the transition easier?

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