Adjusting to work after a holiday

Getting back into work mode after a holiday can be a struggle. Photo / Thinkstock

The beach was so relaxing, the snow-covered mountains so calm, the back yard so lazy - but that was last week. When your holiday's over, what can you do to minimise the jarring sense of being tossed back into the work frying pan?

Start thinking about work while still in holiday mode, says Mike Ryan, a vice president at Madison Performance Group in New York City, which works with employee engagement.

"Have a list of things you want to accomplish as soon as you get back," he said.

While your mind is still in that relaxed state - and while you're on the flight or drive back - remember the projects, the emails and tasks that were still outstanding when you left. Prioritise what you want to get done.

"When you start to go through the things you need to do, it sets off mental reminders of other things," he said.

Of course, Ryan, who works at increasing employee engagement, tends to be engaged as an employee.

"I've found that by the end of vacation, I'm looking forward to going back," he said - a comment that may cause many to stop reading here.

But he has some good ideas.

One is to work out after your first day back to get rid of the nervous energy that accumulates on the job.

"I find that if you commit yourself to working out after you get back, you can maintain that balance. It really helps you stay relaxed and maintain that edge," he said.

He plans to follow his own suggestions this year on the first real holiday he has taken in about a decade. It seems Ryan is so engaged that he leaves a lot of leave days on the table every year.

He also said people tend to earn their holiday the week before by setting up systems or finishing work that would be done while they were gone. Many often check email and make calls while they are gone.

He has collected other ideas while working with people who don't have leftover leave time and would rather not answer work calls while they are away.

Bring back something for your co-workers to share. If you've been to Switzerland, bring back chocolates. Everyone enjoys them, and it will remind you of your time away.

Wear comfortable shoes: The last thing you want is to squash your feet, which have been lounging in sandals, into uncomfortable pumps.

Finally, wear sunscreen. It will protect your skin while you are outside, and the smell will remind you of the sun.

- AAP