As the festive season slowly starts to simmer down it is soon time to return back to work. But most people find themselves unmotivated. After days of staying home and getting relaxed our body gets used to the vacation. Not only this but there are various reasons that can make us feel sluggish when it comes to returning to work after holidays. Some of which include:
- Change in routine
- Changed mentality
- Different environment
- Difficulty in transitioning from personal to professional mindset
Now that we have seen what causes these slumps, we need to tackle them because this is the best time to contribute towards career growth. How so you might ask. Well here are a few reasons why it might be so:
Why is post holiday the best time for career development?
1. Fresh mindset
After celebrating the festival most of us come back with a fresh mind as we let ourselves relax. This is a perfect time to evaluate your current strengths and consider taking on new challenges, learning and focusing on career goals.
2. Semi annual reports
The festive seasons lie mid-year which is also the time when most companies conduct their reviews. This is the time when workplaces evaluate their performance and set new targets. All of this can be a chance for you to show initiative and align your personal career goals with your company’s goals.
3. Goal Reassessment
Post-holidays are the perfect time for reflection. You can gain valuable insights on what you have achieved so far and what still needs some work. If you have set any long-term goal and soft skills you want to develop then this allows for you to see how far you have come and what needs to change.
4. Competitive Advantage
Most people may not access their goals and achievements mid-year so strategically using this time to upskill can give you a competitive edge. By maintaining consistency you can position yourself as a proactive and growth-oriented professional.
Although we talked about why post holidays are the best time for career development it seems kind of a contradictory when you think about it. Well the thing is at the beginning of getting back to work it is natural to feel sort of unmotivated but when you get over that feeling then you can move onto the career development part. Here we are going to discuss how to get back to work after holidays.
8 tips to get back to work after holidays:
1. Start with smaller tasks
Trying to finish huge tasks the first day you return to work is not realistic and can easily make you overwhelmed. So first make sure to tackle the smaller tasks. This gives you a sense of accomplishment. Moreover you can also start to get rid of your work pile which will help you ease more into work.
2. Keep a clean and organized workplace
Imagine trying to get through numerous emails and all the pending tasks only to be unable to find the required documents. Not something you want to go through especially when you have got back to work. So it is fair to say that immediately cleaning your workplace before you start working is a great way to gain clarity. If you can then it is even better to do so before you go on vacation.
3. Prioritize the tasks at hand
When your mind is swarmed with confusion it can be better to have a fixed roadmap on what to do first. Make sure to not think about the days after on the very first day. While it can be good to plan and stay ahead, doing it right after coming to work can leave you overwhelmed. First prioritize your task at hand and after you start building momentum you can go on to think about what’s next.
4. Take breaks
Yes you are just back after vacation but it doesn’t mean you should tire yourself out. Make sure to start working little by little but do not forget to take breaks. In fact taking small breaks can help you feel refreshed and be more productive.
5. Talk to colleagues
Before going to work, catch up with your colleagues and see how they are feeling. Most times we feel as if we might be the only one who is feeling sluggish but you would be surprised to see how many people actually feel that way. Talking to colleagues is a great way to be grounded to reality.
6. Fix your sleep schedule
For the majority of the people holidays are times for rest, relaxation and fun. This may also include sleeping for longer hours than usual or changing your sleep timing but you will need to get back to the schedule you used to have while you were working. This is not plausible if you try to do it the night before. So make sure two to three days before your actual day of work to readjust your sleep time.
7. Stop Overthinking
Sometimes things are only in our head. We make the tasks at hand a way bigger deal than it actually is. Hence just stopping to overthink and actually doing the tasks is a great way to overcome the slump you are going through.
8. Celebrate small wins
Ensure that you are going easy on yourself. Setting goals way high and being unable to complete them can leave you feeling even more overwhelmed. Even if you finish a small task make sure to count it as a win. It's a step towards building momentum and eventually accomplishing greater goals.
Everyone feels overwhelmed after holidays at work to some extent. So make sure that you let yourself ease and slowly get to work. This is a time to develop your career and look for better opportunities. You can find career opportunities on job portals like merojob, make sure to utilize them to their full extent.
