Member Article

6 ways to beat back-to-work blues

With the clouds rolling in, it’s the start of shorter days and less sunlight… its official summer’s almost over. For employees reminiscing about summer vacations it can be hard to get back into work mode and as a result productivity can often suffer.

Jim Somers, vice president of marketing at LogMeIn’s join.me gives his quick tips to make re-entry into ‘real life’ less painful.

Acceptance - The first step to dealing with any challenge is to accept it and try to embrace the change. Think of it as an opportunity for a fresh start in your career, even if you’re staying in the same job, Somers says.

Easy yourself back in – Start by doing the easier tasks first, for instance organise your desk, or return some phone calls and emails to your colleagues. The key is not to get overcome on the first day of work after the holiday.

Manage your time – Returning to work after a vacation can be overwhelming but it’s important to stay focused. Try to write down a list of things that need to be accomplished, or create a more formal schedule and calendar before diving back into work and the week ahead. Developing a plan and knowing what needs to be done will reduce the stresses of going back to work and help tackle the workload.

Pace yourself – Whether you’re returning from a three-week vacation in Greece or a long weekend at the beach, transitioning from play to work is no easy feat. Successfully getting back into your professional, back-to-life routine takes time. It’s a good idea to remember to ease into the hustle and bustle by taking multiple short breaks to avoid burning out and getting overwhelmed.

Make life easier for yourself – Getting back into the flow of working can be difficult and the stress and anxiety can often lead workers to procrastinate. However, ignoring the large workload will only allow it to get bigger. Stay connected with your colleagues using tools like Slack. Somers says staying connected and leaning on colleagues and friends for support can help get back into a routine and cultivate better teamwork and productivity.

Keep the sleep – The concept of a regular bedtime and a structured nightly routine pretty much went out the window as soon as we moved. I’m not looking forward to the meltdowns we’ll have to endure when we reintroduce a strict 8 p.m. bedtime for our five-year-old, but I know forcing him — and myself — to get to sleep at a reasonable hour is going to boost energy and alertness during the day.

You should plan to make the most of last few weeks of summer, but thanks to these tips, re-entry into real life shouldn’t be as stressful as it could have been.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jim Somers .