We are now a few weeks into the first month of 2021.
For some of you, you might still be missing those times you got to relax or have fun during your long break at the end of last year, wishing that they could last forever.
In such situation, it’s understandable for you to feel tired and less productive once you’ve returned to your workplace.
However, by doing some simple yet effective ways, you can regain your work momentum after your holidays:
Know your flow
When you come back to work after the holidays, you might not have the same pace as you did pre-holiday.
As a way of getting your engine started, try to reorganise your workflow by managing your time accordingly. This will help you stay on top of your tasks.
It also helps if you arrive at least 15 minutes early to your workplace to complete any outstanding tasks or to catch up with your colleagues.
You’ll find yourself more relaxed and ready to work, as you’re now more familiar with the things you need to do throughout your workday.
Create a to-do list
Knowing that you’ll have a heap of job tasks waiting for you can be overwhelming.
So take several minutes to plan your workday before diving in by prioritising more important and urgent tasks.
To identify which tasks matter most, create a to-do list. In listing the things you need to do at work, don’t be afraid to say no to low-priority tasks.
Having a to-do list allows you to be mindful of what to expect from your day in the office; creating it on the last few days of your holidays helps to make you feel less overwhelmed when you go back to work.
Use a visual calendar
Apart from a to-do list, a visual calendar enables you to keep your work progress on track.
It can include items such as break time, meal time, meetings, travels and even a family get-together at least throughout the week.
Having a visual calendar (and keeping tabs on it) can reduce your work anxiety by addressing any concern that you may have about forgetting outstanding tasks or appointments.
Be warned that it’s best not to schedule too many meetings and deadlines when you first come back to work as this will leave you feeling swamped.
Get enough rest
The human brain is unable to function and concentrate on accomplishing the same tasks for a long period, especially when it hasn’t been stimulated for a long while – in this case, throughout your holidays.
Thus, it’s important to rest from time to time throughout your workday to prevent any loss of concentration and productivity.
After completing a task, take a short break to recharge. Whenever you have the urge to finish everything in a short amount of time, give yourself a breather to reflect on what you’ve done so far.
During breaks, you can perform deep breathing exercises, stretch your body, or take a walk.
Photo by Bethany Legg on Unsplash.
