There's
something so magical about getting away from it all on holiday and
spending time with the family, isn't there? Even a staycation can be
SO good for the soul - a change of routine without the school run or
work commute to push us out of bed in the mornings might not be the
same as lounging by the pool in the sunshine, but it can definitely
be a breath of fresh air!
It's
no wonder then that so many of us struggle to get back into work mode
and the mountain of emails waiting for us when the vacation veil
finally has to lift.
But
there is a way forward. Here are my 3 top tips to get you back into
work mode after a holiday. Hope you (and Rachel) find them useful!
#1
Give yourself a break!
When
the post-holiday blues strike - be kind to yourself. You had an
amazing holiday and hopefully a complete break from work. Don't feel
guilty about it!
Savour
the magical moments, share them with your family and friends and
celebrate the memories while they're still fresh. Why not make a
photo-book? The best time to do this is straight after a holiday
otherwise you're much less likely to get it done.
Why
this works: by reliving the memories of your holiday and celebrating
them you're more likely to be able to get 'closure' and find it
easier to move forwards into work mode again.
#2
Take time to take stock
Use
the first day back at your desk to review your goals with a fresh
perspective rather than diving straight into your email inbox.
It's
all too easy to get caught up in the urgent rather than the
important. Let's face it everything seems urgent at first! But be
sure to make a note of any ideas or new goals that surfaced during
your time away. Inspiration often strikes when you have a change of
pace and refocus your priorities. So take some time to look at your
big, hairy goals and see if you need to edit them or if they're still
valid and exciting you - and tweak your monthly, weekly and daily
actions to get back on track.
#3
Prioritise and timebox
When
you DO get to your inbox (and if it's anything like mine it will be
overflowing), use your new goal-centred focus to guide you.
I
use a 3 step prioritisation process to triage emails and actions that
have come in while I've been away from my desk and then I use
'timeboxing' to get headway on the most important ones. (You can find
out more about both of these systems at TheJoyChaser.com)
Before
you know it you'll be back in the flow and be looking forward to your
next holiday!
Michelle
Reeves is a life coach, blogger, MIND mental health charity
ambassador and busy mama to two under 8s. She is passionate about
inspiring and empowering busy mamas and bloggers to become their most
positive, powerful and productive selves. You can find her at
TheJoyChaser.com and on social media as @thejoychaser.
