It’s the Monday morning after a luxurious break from work. You should feel refreshed, right? But, you don’t: you’ve only just stepped foot into the office and are already feeling tired and drained. This is actually a fairly common reaction and the reasons for a post-holiday blues can range from a sudden lack of excitement to dissatisfaction at work.
According to a recent survey by Monster.com in the Philippines, over one-third of the respondents indicated that they either have to drag themselves to work or hate going back to work after a holiday or short break. Although over 40% also stated that they were looking forward to taking on new work challenges, this reticence to return to work can hit anyone.
No matter which camp you belong to, it’s important to keep in mind a few tips on how to avoid the post-holiday blues:
1. Clear your to-do list
The days before embarking on a holiday or long weekend can feel especially busy and cramped with work, as you trying to get everything done before your vacation. The last thing you want is to think about while away from the office needs to check your emails constantly, so completing your to-do list will let you scoot into the sun with a satisfactory feeling.
If some of your projects demand supervision in your absence or the nature of your job comes with a never-ending task list that’s impossible to complete, you need to let go and find a trusted colleague who can take over while you are away so that you aren’t stressing about all the work that awaits you when you return. Just before leaving the office and dashing to the airport, don’t forget to clean up your desk and leave your workplace in a tidy condition that will let you return to creative comfort.
2. Set goals for yourself
Sitting at your desk and reminiscing about fun activities and beautiful scenery will likely make you wish you were anywhere but your desk. Coming back from holiday, you need something to look forward to at the office use the newfound energy from your holiday and convert it into a new project or professional goal.
No matter if it’s getting a new client or pitching a new project to your boss, find something that excites you and work your way toward it.
3. Get organized
Following up on the point made above, you should celebrate your return to the office with a dose of enthusiasm. Structure your days with a clear to-do list in order to get back into the swing of things and stay off social media so that you don’t lose your focus. The last thing you need is to be inundated with all those travel images and weekend getaway offers that keep appearing in your social feed.
4. Stay active
During a holiday, it’s normal to be more active while exploring new cities and enjoying fun leisure activities – quite a departure from the sedentary days spent sitting at a desk. Once back at work, the sudden lack of activity after can spur depressive thoughts and increase anxiety. The only way to beat the patterns of inactivity is to get moving. If you have a standing desk – use it – but also take daily walks, hit the gym or take up a new sport.
5. What’s next?
If you can’t help but continuously think about your last holiday, it’s perhaps time to look ahead and plan your next getaway. Knowing that there is another adventure on the horizon will make it easier to leave the blues behind.
