Back to the office. How to get back in the swing of things this September

Summer is coming to an end. And post-vacation blues are common — roughly 57% of people experience them. Luckily, September is prime time to get back at it with recharged chi, working up to a strong sustainable focus in advance of Q4’s hustle-and-bustle. Here’s how.

Back to the office – tl;dr

• Note that it’s perfectly normal to have some resistance returning to work

• Don’t try to hit the ground running — give yourself a week to get back in the ring

• Prolong the “vacation glow”

• Tackle small tasks to put positive momentum into effect

• Get reacquainted with old work before taking on new

• Limit yourself to 3 true priorities per day

• If you have serious resistance, try plugging back in the analog way

• Instead of playing catch-up, treat September as a clean slate

• Get the 411 over a tech-free, low-key meeting (not poring over emails)

• Reconnect with your work’s purpose

Note that it’s perfectly normal to have some resistance returning to work.

Often, the longer the break, the more intense the resistance. Vacationing became the norm. You settled into a laid-back frequency. Switching gears isn’t automatic and can be a bit uncomfortable. So nervousness, even anxiety is expected

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Lack of motivation is typical, too! Whatever the case, don’t beat yourself up for feeling some friction returning to work. You’re human, after all.

Don’t try to hit the ground running. Give yourself a week to get back in the ring.

It just isn’t likely you’ll come off vacation guns blazing. It can take a whole week to return to a regular work rhythm. You’re out of sync with the team. You haven’t thought about projects in days. So look at week 1 as a buffer.

Prolong the “vacation glow.”

Have you ever returned to work post-holiday with a fuller presence? More attentiveness to the little things? To peers? Call it a vacation glow — a pleasant frame of mind that’s pure gratitude

– offers Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Tackle small tasks to put positive momentum into effect.

Avoid scheduling key meetings at first. Keep things relatively easy-breezy, focusing on a few manageable tasks. Temporarily turn off unnecessary notifications as you ease into the habit of concentrating again. Limiting the amount of info coming toward you will help lure your working mojo back.

As a rule, it’s best to get reacquainted with old tasks before taking on new ones.

Plan to start tackling new work only once you’re fully immersed in the old. Otherwise, you’re liable to get tuckered out by a seemingly endless list of responsibilities at the onset.

Limit yourself to 3 true priorities per day.

3 items that are urgent and accomplishable. Check emails and messages only once or twice daily rather than compulsively (so you don’t get sidetracked from your 3 things). Since much productivity is lost by pushing mindlessly through, intermittent breaks are recommended, too.

If you have serious resistance, try plugging back in the analog way.

That is, without fancy tech. Storyboard ideas on a white board space divider, like hushWall. Brain-dump onto refreshingly rinky-dink loose-leaf paper in a private work pod, like hushHybrid. Just a minor geyser of thoughts can be catalytic, helping re-stimulate an appetite for your work.

A quick fix for those who can never seem to “get ahead?”

Stop viewing yourself as behind! Consider that you’re right on track. That there’s no such thing as being “behind.” Setbacks are an integral part of the process. The stress that comes with emotionalizing this process (and falling into catch-up mode) is not only counterproductive but unneeded.

So instead of playing catch-up, treat September as a clean slate.

It’s a great transition month. 4 weeks to prepare for the Q4 mad rush — time enough to get poised for busyness. Rather than assuming catch-up mode, call where you’re at a solid starting point, treating September as you would the new year.

Get the 411 over a tech-free, low-key meeting (not poring over emails).

Basic team meetings are much more time-efficient, enjoyable, and human than sorting through multiple threads of communication trying to discern what’s changed. Make it easy on yourself by simply meeting up with your crew and chatting out what’s new.

Tech-free might be key in general.

The digital aspect of work can be what’s hardest to get into after a week away from the computer. So wade into the waters lo-fi, no fuss of extra tech. No sense in inundating yourself with excessive stimuli. Generally, tech-free meetings and discussions produce greater presence, as well.

Remind yourself of your work’s purpose.

Even those with highly purposeful jobs can dread returning to them after a vacation. Why? Work is relatively much less engaging than adventure, of course. If your motivation is MIA, try reconnecting with all the “whys” behind the mission, rekindling a sense of purpose.

Just 15 minutes recounting all the ways you improve the lives of others can do wonders.

Concrete, emotional ways. Viscerally sense your contribution to the big picture. It’ll bring you in touch with the far-reaching utility of your job, putting some pep in your step. The deliverables on your plate will become more meaningful, compelling you to keep on trucking.

Back to the office – tl;dr

• Note that it’s perfectly normal to have some resistance returning to work

• Don’t try to hit the ground running — give yourself a week to get back in the ring

• Prolong the “vacation glow”

• Tackle small tasks to put positive momentum into effect

• Get reacquainted with old work before taking on new

• Limit yourself to 3 true priorities per day

• If you have serious resistance, try plugging back in the analog way

• Instead of playing catch-up, treat September as a clean slate

• Get the 411 over a tech-free, low-key meeting (not poring over emails)

• Reconnect with your work’s purpose

Getting back to the office – frequently asked questions

What is Post Vacation Syndrome?

Post Vacation Syndrome, or post-vacation blues, is the sadness, anxiety, or dread that can accompany returning to work after taking a holiday. Touchiness, poor sleep, difficulty focusing, and low motivation are typical. How to get through it? Give yourself some grace, recognizing that resistance is 100% human. And give yourself a grace period, too — about a week to slowly get your head back in the game.

How do you beat post-vacation blues?

For starters, don’t beat yourself up for feeling some resistance returning to work. Give yourself a week to adjust, minimizing key meetings, and tackling but 3 true priorities per day. Immerse in old work before taking on new. And instead of playing catch-up, treat September as a clean slate, calling where you’re at a solid starting point (not “behind”).

How long does it take to adjust after vacation?

It can take a whole week to get back in the saddle after a holiday.