5 Back To Work Tips For A Smooth Return! 🧘
This week was my coming back to work after some time off, and let me tell you, post-vacay emotions are real! 😅
It's a mix between "I miss my bed 🛏️" and "take me back to the beach! 🏖️" but overall, I‘m excited to chat with my colleagues again! 🤗
Let's be real though, coming back to work can sometimes be overwhelming: you may have 273 emails and 63 Slack messages waiting for you, a never-ending to-do list, or simply be feeling out of the loop. 🤯
This week, I’m sharing with you my 5️⃣ favorite practical tips to ease back into work after a break - ensuring a smooth transition! 😉
1️⃣ The No-Mondays Rule: I've sworn off coming back to work after some time off on a Monday. Instead, I ease into it on a Wednesday, ideally. It gives me enough room to catch up and plan without feeling overwhelmed by a full week ahead.
A shorter week boosts my motivation! 💪
2️⃣ Keep my Out-of-Office: Leaving my Slack and email with an out-of-office message for an extra day (or two….) has been a game-changer! It creates a buffer time and manages expectations for response time - sorting through those 273 emails and 63 Slack messages does require time!
This way, you avoid the stress of unanswered messages piling up. 😉
3️⃣ Prioritize Focus: Before heading off for vacations, I proactively set aside some dedicated focus time for my first few days back. By scheduling blocks of focus time in my calendar with no meetings, I can efficiently catch up on all the messages and updates that have accumulated.
It's like creating small breathing buffers to better navigate the workload! 🙌
4️⃣ Ask for Team Support: I've found that asking my peers and team to flag any urgent topics for me right after my return has been incredibly helpful. It streamlines the catch-up process and keeps me in the loop on what needs immediate attention.
Whether it’s a simple Slack message, a brief call, or a request to add PRIO in email subject lines, or even be sent TalkTracks - it can be creative! 💬
5️⃣ Have fun: One of the best ways to get back into the groove of things is to actually plan something fun for your first day back. It could be something as simple as grabbing coffee with a colleague or bringing some sweet specialties from the place you visited...
Some positive social interactions will give you something to look forward to. 🤩
Remember, it's completely natural to feel a bit overwhelmed when returning to work after a break.
But by keeping these tips in mind and finding what works for you, you can make the transition smoother and more manageable, keeping that relaxed post-vacation vibe for a little longer! 😎
Actions for today:
Reflect on which of those tips to test for your next return from vacations.
Take some time to create a plan for your first few days back at work after a break.