Back to reality
Taking a summer vacation is a greatway to relax and recharge your batteries. Lounging on the beach, exploring a foreign city or hiking in the mountains can put you in a new head space. But then your flights is taking off and you you must return to the daily grind.
The good news is that studies show Start with old tasks that you didn’t that three days after taking a vacation, finish before youwent on vacation. It travelers report feeling less anxious, will give you a sense of normality. You more rested and in a better mood. might be tempted to jump straight into These benefits typically linger for new projects, but you’re going to crash weeks after the trip, but coming back and burn before lunch. Don’t schedule still is tough. any big meetings on the first day.
No onewants to think about emails Focus on doing what you knowhow and deadlines, putting together a to do and what requires the least budget or running a meeting after an amount of time. Starting with small amazing holiday. But it can’t be tasks can boost your confidence. avoided, and there areways to survive your firstweek back without having a 3. Bring a little piece of your mental burnout. I’ve come up with vacationhomewith you some tips that can help ease your transition Souvenirs are great reminders that back towork. it’s fine to take a break and enjoy life.
Work is not life.
1. Don’t go back towork right But recovering from fatigue can be after your vacation’s over as simple as reminiscing. In her book,
Everyone needs some time to get “TheMyths ofHappiness,” University back into the groove of things. If you of California, Riverside psychology can, take a day or two to relax and professor Sonja Lyubomirsky wrote recuperate before heading back into about theways in which reminiscing the office. Tidy up around the house, about a trip brings immense pleasure. run errands and try to tackle the It can be especially helpful if you can mountain of emails. incorporate the senses. I like using
You will feel better if you accomplish diffusers with oils fromdifferent parts a few tasks while also having a of theworld. This arouses positive little more rest time. Focus on giving feelings about where Iwas and what I your mind time to adjust. did on that trip. It energizes me.
2. Ease yourway back intowork 4. Interact with others in the office
Either the day before returning to Your co-workers willwant to know work or the morning you are back at it, about your trip. The details about how take some time to plan out your day. you couldn’t finish your hiking expedition Make a to-do list with everything you because you realized halfway knowyou need to tackle and prioritize through that you don’t actually like what needs to be done. If you do this being in the forest will be entertaining. on the morning of your return, be sure You don’t have to hold back out of to give yourself alone time. fear of seeming as though you’re bragging. Conversations like these help you form bonds with your co-workers that will aid in getting you back to business.
Talk to them about great trips they’ve taken to engage with them and also to get good ideas for your next adventure.
5. Go towork with a newset of eyes
I had to come up with a strategy of howto approach a new client about a possible collaboration. Stumped, I decided towait to connect until after my vacation. Good thing I did. While I was in line for a sandwich, I got an idea about what I should present that would be unique and engaging for the client.
Maybe youwere frustrated with a task before youwent on vacation because you couldn’t make itwork. After being away fromit for a while, you can look at it differently and offer a new perspective. Sometimes you just need time away to get a little jump-start on yourwork.
6. Take breaks during the day
Going into fullwork mode without any breaks is a recipe for a burnout. Don’t let guilt force you into believing that you have towork yourself into the ground because youwere away.
At one time, your co-workers also went on vacation. They don’t (or shouldn’t) expect you to break your back trying to catch up in one day.
Be kind to yourself, and remember that you deserved your vacation and the time it takes to recover from it. Take a short break every three hours to breathe deeply and get back into the groove.
John DiScala is Johnny Jet and has traveled more than 100,000 miles a year since starting his newsletter in 1995.