7 Motivating Tips to Reboot Your Work Routine - Pt 1

"The thing is, continuity of strategic direction and continuous improvement in how you do things are absolutely consistent with each other. In fact, they're mutually reinforcing."

— Michael Porter

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:

Post-Holiday Fatigue and Motivation Slump

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:

Difficulty focusing on tasks, especially if you work from home.

Reduced motivation to dive back into high-stress projects.

Procrastination or slower task completion due to a lingering holiday mindset.

Overwhelming Workload and Backlog

Returning to a full inbox and an accumulated to-do list can feel stressful, leading to struggles with:

Prioritizing tasks effectively, especially when faced with urgent deadlines.

Managing multiple projects that have piled up during the break.

Feeling anxious due to the pressure to catch up quickly.

Re-establishing Time Management and Work-Life Balance

After the holidays, it might be challenging to reestablish structured routines and habits. This can lead to:

Inefficient time management, especially in balancing work demands with personal life.

Difficulty setting boundaries, such as saying no to new projects or avoiding overworking.

Challenges in maintaining high performance while dealing with distractions and internal or external expectations.

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.

Here are Some Practical Tips for a Smooth Transition Back to Healthy-High Performance

1. Reconnect with Purpose and Set Clear Goals

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.

2. Gradual Reintroduction to Work

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.

3. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to Prioritize

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:

Important & Urgent: Handle these tasks first (e.g., approaching deadlines).

Important but Not Urgent: Schedule these tasks for later, but make a note to allocate time for them.

Urgent but Not Important: Delegate these tasks if possible to free up time.

Not Urgent & Not Important: Consider eliminating these tasks completely and instead focus on higher-value work. This approach helps prioritize effectively, focusing on what matters most while reducing stress.

4. Implement the "4D" Strategy for Email Overload

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:

Delete: If an email is irrelevant or can be discarded, delete it immediately.

Delegate: If the email can be handled by someone else, delegate it without delay.

Defer: For non-urgent emails that require more time or thought, schedule them for later.

Do: If an email requires action and can be handled in under 2 minutes, do it immediately. This method helps triage your inbox and clear the most critical communications first, preventing inbox overwhelm from consuming the workday.

Part two will follow shortly with the remaining three tips.

Meanwhile, feel free to share your thoughts below.

Thanks for being here today, and happy back-to-working!

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