Snapping out of Holiday Mode

Some of us may feel a bit down about returning to work after holidays, however it is a fact of life that we must work, and returning needs to be done! Ripping off that bitter band aid can be hard, however there are a few tips on how to ensure that your transition back to work life is a smooth and easy process.

Experience shows that once returning to work, people may be less careful and vigilant and may relax their standards when they perform their work. It is great to catch up with your colleagues and exchange stories but you need to ensure that the stories don’t distract one another from performing your tasks.

Many of you would have a morning ritual of getting up and getting ready (potentially getting others ready) and setting off for the day. Ensuring that this kind of routine is the same and is performed as how you would normally do before your holiday can greatly help you snap out of holiday mode and return to work.

If you are in the habit of fixing yourself a beverage before you start your work – make sure you do this, because it’s a part of your routine it will help you get back into the groove of working. Other small actions like going to lunch at the same time everyday can also assist in this process.

If you have a colleague who can’t stop talking about their amazing trip overseas or just how cute it was when a family member proposed over Christmas, maybe it’s time to remove yourself from the situation. Colleagues may get the hint that you need to finish a task when you pop in a pair of earphones or maybe alert them of a deadline that you have – your colleague should get the clue.

In some instances, you might be the distraction and it’s important to recognise that maybe you’re the one that’s talking a bit too much! This will make it easier for your whole team to get back into the rhythm of work.

It is important to your team and the workplace that standards of work do not relax when returning to work and adopting these tips can help you avoid slacking.