It’s that wonderful time of year…when everyone is scrambling to take time off and use up their remaining vacation days before losing them at the end of the year. 😊

I enjoy taking time off at the end of the year to celebrate the holidays with my family, sleep in, and enjoy a few days with NOTHING planned!

However, I sometimes struggle when it’s time to get back to work. As much as I LOVE my job, I have to recalibrate after vacation to get back into the right frame of mind to return to work.

Here are some strategies I use to help overcome my “back to work blues.”

Plan Vacations Properly
I like to be able to ease back into work slowly rather than dive back in at full pace. I plan for this with my vacation schedule. If I’m traveling, I allow myself a buffer day to mentally prepare for shifting my mindset. 

My real game changer is to plan a short workweek when I return. I might return on a Tuesday or Wednesday instead of Monday to help me ease back into the office. Mentally, it’s less stressful to face a 3-day workweek than a full 5-day workweek.

Prepare For Your Vacation
I can’t leave the house with dirty dishes in the sink because it stresses me out when I return home. The same goes for vacation. I can’t return from vacation to a messy office. Returning to a clean office gives me the sense of a “clean slate” to start working again. 

I also clean up my email inbox and set my out-of-office message to say I’m returning one day LATER than planned. If my inbox is full when I return, it gives me a couple of days to organize, prioritize, and reply to emails. For me, there’s nothing more draining than spending my first day back stressed about my inbox.

Take It Slow
When I’m at work every day, I build up a rhythm that helps my efficiency and productivity. While away from the office, I may not be quite as “on the ball” as I was when I left. With that in mind, I approach my workday as gently as possible. I expect to work a little slower than usual and plan my schedule accordingly.

I try not to take on any particularly difficult tasks during the first week back at work. It’s also worth avoiding exhausting meetings during those first couple of days. I give myself some time to catch up.

Schedule More Time Off
Finally, one of the best ways I get over the post-vacation blues is to get excited about what comes next. I like to map out my vacation schedule at the beginning of the year. This ensures I don’t look back in December wishing I had taken more time off. 

I reflect on my work cycles and when I will likely start feeling a little burned out and need to take a break. I typically plan time off about once a quarter. Sometimes, it’s just a long weekend or a few days to take a break rather than planning a full week. I’ll block the time on my calendar and figure out whether to take a “staycation” or travel as the dates get closer.

I hope you enjoy your time off over the holidays, and I encourage you to be proactive in the new year and map out your 2024 vacation schedule!

Wishing you the best!