If you need some time to get back into your usual work routine after a holiday, you may be experiencing the back-to-work blues: a period of low motivation and mood that employees may experience in the first few days after their holiday. And it isn’t a rare phenomenon: according to studies, around two thirds of all employees suffer from listlessness, lack of concentration and motivation after their holiday.
But there are ways to overcome the back-to-work blues and get into your everyday routine again more easily. These tips will help lift your mood after a holiday:
1. Take it easy
Employees work much more than is required of them – not only before, but also after their holiday. In a new study on «Work and Recovery», the German health-insurance company Pronova BKK concludes that 18- to 29-year-olds work an average of almost nine additional hours after the holidays. 30- to 39-year-olds work even more after their holiday, with an average of 20 hours.
You don’t need to get everything done immediately. On the day you return to work, write down all your tasks and spread them across several days. You’ll still be productive even if you don’t skip all your breaks and work late into the evenings. Give yourself time to settle back in, then you’ll be able to perform at your best again within two or three days.
Replace overtime with to-do lists: plan your tasks and take breaks.
Pro tip: Block focus times to escape a meeting marathon on the day of your return and be able to edit your messages without time pressure. In addition, ask your holiday cover to let you know about important progress or urgent decisions. This will give you the comforting feeling of being up to date.
2. Set priorities
One of the most effective ways to get back to work productively after the holidays is to set clear priorities. Studies show that the «Pareto rule» (also known as the 80/20 rule) applies to many areas of work: 20 per cent of the tasks completed achieve 80 per cent of the effect. Use this rule by sorting your tasks according to importance and urgency. Focus first on the tasks that have the greatest impact on your goals. A well-structured plan and the consistent completion of the most important tasks will help you to quickly get back into the flow of work and to work effectively.
Post-holiday productivity: Focus on the 20% of tasks that deliver 80% of the results.
3. Work efficiently
After the holidays, it is a good time to get rid of any inefficiencies that have crept in and to stop wasting valuable time. Do you find yourself spending unusually long periods of time working on an important piece of work without a break, without achieving any results? Then the Pomodoro technique can help. It is a widely used method for increasing your own productivity. It is based on the idea of working in short, intensive work units (usually 25 minutes) followed by short breaks (five minutes). After four units, a longer break (15–30 minutes) follows. Minimising distractions also increases efficiency. To do this, use the two-minute rule. This states that any task that takes less than two minutes should be done immediately. This prevents small tasks from piling up and taking up more time later. It’s a simple but effective way to focus on more important tasks while keeping track of everything. And: avoid multitasking. Studies have shown that multitasking can reduce productivity by up to 40%.
After the holidays: Boost productivity with the Pomodoro Technique and without multitasking.
4. Reward yourself with something nice
According to a study by the statistics portal Statista*, around 30% of all workers remain available for professional queries outside their usual working hours. Only 15% manage to switch off completely after work. As you’d expect, the recuperative effect will fizzle out quickly – even after your holiday. Find a balance between work and play and plan activities to recharge your batteries. Dinner with friends, a bike ride or just a good book – find something that brings you joy, schedule it into your everyday routine and follow it through.
Make the most of your time off: spend time with friends and recharge your batteries.
5. Stick to your resolutions
«After my holiday, I’ll eat more healthily and find a hobby.» For most people, a holiday offers a good opportunity to set new resolutions – and more exercise, a better diet and plenty of relaxation are some of the favourites. But often these good intentions remain nothing but wishful thinking. A tip to avoid this: write down your resolution on a card that you carry with you at all times – and look at it five or six times a day. It’ll help you turn your resolution into reality. Or instead of a card, you could try an app like Headspace as well. It offers daily routines or meditation exercises to add a bit of calm to your everyday life and help you focus.
Make your resolutions reality: regularly remind yourself of your goals and stay motivated.