Back to the office: get back into the rhythm this September

Summer is almost over and the post-holiday blues are looming on the horizon, affecting around 57% of individuals. Fortunately, September is the perfect time to return to your duties with recharged batteries, aiming for consistent focus through the last quarter’s hustle and bustle. How to achieve it? Read on.

Back to the office – tl;dr

• Remember that feeling a bit resistant to returning to your work duties is perfectly normal.
• Don’t expect yourself to kick off right away – give yourself a couple of days to get back on track.
• Try to extend the “holiday glow.”
• Begin by tackling a few smaller tasks to build a positive feeling of accomplishment.
• Brush up on older tasks before diving into new ones.
• Keep your priority list short by limiting yourself to three key tasks per day.
• If you feel strongly resistant, try doing things the traditional way.
• Treat September as a fresh start rather than a catch-up.
• Stay in the loop without digging through your mailbox – informal, tech-free meetings are a great choice.
• Reconnect with your work objectives.

Remember that feeling a bit resistant to returning to your work duties is perfectly normal.

Longer holidays often result in greater resistance. The relaxed pace you got accustomed to during your time off has to be replaced with a structured work routine. As switching gears doesn’t happen automatically, the whole process may cause discomfort, nervousness, or even anxiety

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Decreased motivation can be an issue, too. Whatever the case, don’t blame yourself for feeling a bit resistant to returning to work. We are all human, after all.

Don’t expect yourself to kick off right away – give yourself a couple of days to get back on track.

After a holiday, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll return to work with a full head of steam. It may take up to one week to return to your regular work routine. You’re out of step with other team members. You haven’t thought about your project tasks for days. So, allow yourself one week before you hit the ground running.

Try to extend the “holiday glow.”

Have you ever noticed that after a holiday you are more present at work, paying more attention to details and colleagues? This can be described as a holiday glow – a positive mindset that reflects genuine gratitude

– offers Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Begin by tackling a few smaller tasks to build a positive feeling of accomplishment.

Right after a holiday, avoid scheduling significant meetings. Keep things easy by focusing only on a few doable tasks. As you work on regaining your focus, turn off distracting notifications, since reducing the amount of incoming information will help you get back into your productive rhythm.

As a rule, it’s better to brush up on older tasks before diving into new ones.

Plan to start new tasks only after you have successfully reviewed the old ones. Otherwise, you are at risk of being overcome by a seemingly endless to-do list from the onset.

Limit yourself to three key tasks per day.

Focus on three most urgent, manageable items. Check your mailbox only once or twice a day instead of compulsively digging through it, which might be very distracting. Since a considerable part of productivity is lost when pushing forward without consideration, taking regular breaks is also recommended. 

If you feel strongly resistant, try doing things the traditional way.

The traditional way means without fancy technology. Try brainstorming storyboard ideas on whiteboard space dividers, such as hushWall. Express your ideas on delightfully simple loose-leaf paper in a self-contained pod, such as hushHybrid. Even a small spark of ideas can ignite your workflow and help you regain your productive mojo.

A quick solution for individuals who never seem to make progress

Stop thinking of yourself as someone who is always behind. Believe that you’re heading in the right direction, and remember that setbacks are an integral part of the process. Ruminating over these obstacles and struggling to catch up can add unnecessary stress and is, actually, counterproductive.

So, treat September as a fresh start rather than a catch-up.

September can be a great transition month, giving you four weeks to prepare for the Q4 craze – just enough time to get ready for the busy schedules ahead. Instead of getting into a catch-up mode, turn over a new leaf, making September a fresh start.

Stay in the loop without digging through your mailbox – informal, tech-free meetings are a great choice.

Basic team meetings are not only less time-consuming but also more enjoyable and human than digging through endless threads to find out what has changed. So, don’t complicate things – just meet up with your team to catch up with the latest updates.

Technology-free may be the key.

The digital dimension of work might be the most challenging part of your comeback after a holiday. To keep it simple, avoid extra technology and unnecessary stimuli. In fact, having tech-free discussions can help you feel more present.

Reconnect with your work objectives.

Even individuals with highly meaningful jobs can find it challenging to return to them after a holiday, since work is generally less exciting than adventure. If you really lack motivation, reevaluate the purpose of your mission, thus regaining your forgotten sense of purpose.

Just 15 minutes of reflecting on how you enhance other people’s lives can work miracles.

Consider specific, powerful examples of how you contribute to the big picture. This perspective will enable you to recognise the extensive value of your job, infusing new energy into your attitude. As a result, the tasks on your plate will immediately seem more meaningful, motivating you to keep going.

Back to the office – summary

• Remember that feeling a bit resistant to returning to your work duties is perfectly normal.
• Don’t expect yourself to kick off right away – give yourself a couple of days to get back on track.
• Try to extend the “holiday glow.”
• Begin by tackling a few smaller tasks to build a positive feeling of accomplishment.
• Brush up on older tasks before diving into new ones.
• Keep your priority list short by limiting yourself to three key tasks per day.
• If you feel strongly resistant, try doing things the traditional way.
• Treat September as a fresh start rather than a catch-up.
• Stay in the loop without digging through your mailbox – informal, tech-free meetings are a great choice.
• Reconnect with your work objectives. 

Getting back to the office – frequently asked questions

What actually is a post-holiday syndrome?

Post-holiday syndrome, also known as post-holiday blues, refers to the sadness, anxiety, or even dread connected with returning to work after a holiday. It typically involves irritability, poorer sleep quality, concentration issues, and decreased motivation. How can you tackle it? Be kind to yourself and remember that resistance is a natural human reaction. Allow yourself a couple of days to one week to gradually get back on track.

How can you get over the post-holiday blues?

To start with, don’t blame yourself for feeling resistant to returning to work. Allow yourself a week to adjust, reducing the number of meetings, and focusing on three priority tasks a day. Review older tasks before diving into new ones. Last but not least, treat September as a fresh start rather than a time to catch up on things. This approach will allow you to build a solid foundation for the rest of the year.

Does it take long to get back to your work routine after a holiday?

It may take up to one week to get back on track after a holiday.