Whether you took a vacation or a staycation, for most of us, holiday mode is officially over, and the kids are back to school.
If you live in the northern hemisphere, the warm, long days are slowly ending as we transition to fall. I don't know about you, but returning to work after a summer break can feel like being asked to switch from "Snooze Button" mode to "Hit the Ground Running" in under five seconds.
You know it's bad when you find yourself staring at your email inbox with the same enthusiasm you reserve for cleaning the cat's litter box.
Yes, I am a cat lady :-) We grew up with house pets in Kenya, and I like dogs too. Animals are precious, and this is my Mitsy looking too cute to be disturbed. Though I'd rather be petting her right about now than researching for this blog post after a break from the Internet.
Can you relate to the urge to procrastinate on the 1st few hours or days of back-to-work?
It's that awkward moment when your brain is still on a break while your to-do list is demanding your immediate attention. You might start daydreaming while wading through the backlog that you wish would disappear while you grab another cup of coffee.
Welcome back to work! I hope you were able to recalibrate and recharge as we approach the final quarter.
As we get back to work after holiday mode, there are a few common challenges that can affect our productivity and performance. Challenges like:
After all the resting and relaxation, some of us may struggle to regain our work rhythm. The shift from a slower holiday pace to the demands of work can lead to:
Returning to a full inbox and an accumulated to-do list can feel stressful, leading to struggles with:
After the holidays, it might be challenging to reestablish structured routines and habits. This can lead to:
It's nothing new that you and I go on vacation or staycation mode every year. Yet these common struggles can still hinder our immediate productivity. Managing the workload and backlog requires a strategic approach to prioritizing tasks, balancing multiple projects, and managing stress.
That's the topic of today's blog post, which will be published in two parts to avoid information overload.
In my signature G.O.A.L.S. methodology, I advocate starting with the WHY and then reverse-engineering the vision. One of the most effective ways to shake off the post-holiday motivation slump is to reconnect with your long-term goals and the purpose behind your work.
Revisit your vision and broader professional objectives, then break them down into actionable, short-term targets. Setting clear, achievable milestones not only gives direction and focus but also restores a sense of purpose and intrinsic motivation. Reflecting on the positive impact of your work and the progress you've made in the past inspires you as you set intentions for the coming months.
If you're familiar with my content or books, you may know I'm a huge fan of the Kaizen concept—a Japanese philosophy that promotes a mindset of small incremental changes for sustainable growth.
To navigate post-holiday fatigue, it's important to ease back into your work routine gradually. Consider starting with 1-3 projects for the first few days back—tackle smaller, manageable tasks to rebuild momentum. This helps prevent overwhelm and allows your mind to adjust without pressure. Taking on too much can overstimulate your nervous system, sending you into flight, fight, or freeze mode. Consider focusing on simple, routine activities to regain a sense of control and accomplishment.
Using short bursts of focused work, such as the Pomodoro technique, can also help you re-engage your focus and productivity without burning out too quickly.
As you acclimate, you'll move to handling heavier workloads with competing deadlines.
Use the Eisenhower Matrix, which categorizes tasks based on urgency and importance:
Now, I admire people who have less than 500 unread emails. That will probably never happen in my lifetime. I have a professional and personal account, and each has way more than 500. But I've learned to be OK with that because an empty inbox is currently not my priority.
A full inbox after a break can trigger anxiety and the sudden urge to head for the hills. Like literally :-)
To tame the monster and mitigate stress, consider the "4D" strategy to sort through emails quickly and efficiently:
Meanwhile, feel free to share your thoughts below.
Thanks for being here today, and happy back-to-working!