We know that get the motivation to work after a really nice vacation is not always easy, but we also know how to get it back.
After more than one week of vacations, your motivation to work can really linger, and you may find it hard to get back to your work rhythm. Don’t worry! It’s perfectly normal to struggle a little after getting back from vacation. After all, we worked hard to disconnect from “work” mode entirely and switch our habits so some relaxed and laid-back style. And now you are back, and everything seems too fast, people look like they are running in all directions. Just remember to breathe! It may feel that they have gone crazy, and you can’t keep up with it, but that’s not exactly the truth.
You need to realize that your brain and body are in a completely different mindset; that’s not better or worse, it’s just a more relaxed state. The sooner you’ve grasped this fact, the better and smoother your adaptation will be. You mustn’t be harsh on yourself and take this as part of a normal process of getting back to work and get your motivation to work back. It’s normal that your body and mind take some time to adjust to a completely different environment.
So please, don’t expect to keep up with your colleagues and have an extreme focus at first. We’re humans, and this adaption process takes time. There’s a lot of positive side to it. You can see this process as an opportunity to change your work habits and become even more efficient. As you can see, it’s all a matter of perspective, you need to keep calm and have some strategic thinking by accepting what you can do and what you can improve.
To help you come back to work on the right foot, we have gathered 5 best practices on how to get your motivation to work again and handle your first day back.
Start small and easy
Before you try to embrace all tasks at once and start to have a sense of panic or anxiety because you can’t do it all on your own, think twice. While it’s tempting to dive right into massive projects, you need to give your brain a chance to warm up before going hard. Instead, what you should do is start your day with small tasks and move on to more complex. The first day back can be overwhelming, so start with small yet essential tasks like your inbox. The key to getting back in pace is on advancing progressively.
Make lists
Going back to work and having different tasks that require your attention can hit your organization skills pretty hard. The advice is: put your days in order! Please don’t get into the temptation of trying to do it all by dividing your work into parts. Plan your workday with all the tasks you need to accomplish from the first to the last hour. That way, you will leave no room for surprise and get everything under control.
Work out your routine
As mentioned above, making lists of your daily work is a great exercise, but you’ll need to fix your working method in the long run. We know for a fact that one of the most significant sources of demotivation remains an excessive workload. A solution to make the most of it, it’s to focus on the basics first so you can move on to the more critical tasks. By completing the basic or more natural tasks first, you will feel more accomplished, and you’ll be more motivated. Lastly, remember that adopting a positive mindset in any circumstance can strongly influence your motivation to work.
Improve your work habits
One of the most undervalued benefits of taking a vacation is that it allows you to see your workday with fresh eyes. Have you realized the pool of opportunities here? When you get back to work, resist the urge to fall back into your old routine. Instead, spot your pain and improvement points. We all build some bad work habits over time, so it’s all part of the process. So, embrace them, and take this fantastic opportunity to improve.
Give yourself a break
Lastly, and no less critical, remember that it’s okay to feel a bit down on your first day. Being productive at work is a process, not a single week. Keep in mind that a slow start is better than being all over the place. That’s why it is important to keep your balance and motivation; if you are feeling tired or drain, take a break, give a little way, have some coffee, or engage with your colleagues. Even a short 5-10 minutes break can be enough to boost or renew your motivation.
Find out more tips for your career here and know our job vacancies here.