How to Get Back to Work After a Vacation:
Steps That Will Help You Re-energize and Refocus
I’m just getting back into work after taking a three week vacation with my family. This was LONG OVERDUE! Unfortunately, now it’s back to reality. Sometimes, we don’t always love what we do for a living. When that’s the case, there are tremendous, emotional, and sometimes physical hurdles to overcome when we have to go back. Here are seven tips that help me.
Step 1. The first step to getting back to work is figuring out what you actually want to do. Do you want to dive right into your email inbox? Or do you have a list of tasks that need to be completed? Maybe you have to catch back up with the team and find out what’s been going on since you’ve been gone.
Step 2. Well, whatever it is you decide, write it down. It’s your own version of a self accountability partner. Once you have a plan, try not to vere too far away from it if you don’t have to.
Step 3. You might have to break the big tasks into smaller ones. For example, making a list of tasks like "call _________," "follow up with ____," or "create an appointment reminder for ______" might be too overwhelming to tackle all at once.
Step 4. Once you've jotted down your goals, create quick mental-micro-plans to get you past each one. Think about what you need to do, and when. Procrastination is King when you know you can get things done later.
Step 5. Stay focused on your goals so you do not fall into that procrastination pattern if you can. Get your tasks done early. Do your future self a favor and give him or her some of their time back.
Step 6. Don't forget to review your plan periodically and adjust it as needed. Things change, so sometimes you have to remain flexible. The changes come easier when you have your own north star established.
Step 7. It is important to schedule in some time for yourself. Remember, you were just enjoying your time to do what you wanted with it. Sometimes it takes a minute to work back into being on O.P.T. (other people’s time).
