How to Cut Through The Chaos of Q1 and Reach Peak Productivity

Shifting gears from winter holiday to work mode takes a lot of energy. Hence, give yourself a soft start. Be kind to yourself and have reasonable expectations for what you’ll accomplish in the first few days. Don’t try to get caught up all at once; instead, give yourself some time to re-energize and get in a good mood.

Declutter

Declutter your digital workspace. Archive old emails, delete unnecessary files, and organize your desktop to help create a sense of control. Likewise, remove old papers, files, and any non-essential items that have piled up over time on your desk. Make sure you return to a clean slate. Any existing clutter, backlog, or unresolved issues will slow you down while attempting to get back into a groove.

Reconnect with team and stakeholders

In order to get back into a flow, utilize some time to reconnect with your team and stakeholders, and let them know that you are back and ready to talk business. Both a formal update, for instance, from your superior, and an informal catching up with your peers are recommended for a healthy start. Get in the loop with what’s happening in the company and get updates about team/project deliverables. It initiates a mindset shift, reminding you that you are a part of something that will help you ease back into the work mode.

Create a to-do-list

Ease your way back to work by making a to-do list based on priority. Instead of replying to emails immediately, take the time to read them to understand the progress of each project to get a better idea of the tasks you need to take in hand first. Likewise, set a few manageable goals with nearer and non-negotiable deadlines for the initial two weeks.

Tick off micro-tasks

Don’t pick the biggest project, when you begin work on your first day. Instead, go for the smaller ones. If you take a large task and don’t complete it on time, you will instantly start feeling demotivated. It will make you feel worse and exhausted. Hence, go for small-sized tasks first, so that you feel really good when you accomplish it.

Remember to take breaks

Don’t expect you’ll be back to being 100 percent at work on your first day back. Take it easy and acknowledge the fact that returning to work after leave usually entails a challenging transition in terms of focus and productivity. Pace yourself and make sure to allot quick breaks in regular intervals. Over-exerting can easily backfire and just make you more stressed and anxious. 

Try a change of mindset

Rather than wallow in pessimism, try and find the ‘silver lining’ of being back at work. Harness those good vibes and holiday memories. Take advantage of your rejuvenated mindset to conjure new, creative solutions to the assignments that await you, post-vacation. Sometimes, a temporary break from work is all you need to regain clarity and acquire a far more effective perspective.

Ensure you set yourself up for a good, productive day. This could begin with your favorite cup of coffee, listening to some good music, dressing up in your best clothes to work, etc. Reframing your way of thinking plays a key role in beating the blues and crafting a resourceful mindset for success, in general.

The experience of post-holiday blues is normal, and yes, even the top-most C-suit level, go-getting, and overachieving employee isn’t exempt from it. The fact that you want to hold on to the memories and the ‘highs’ of your holiday is a sign of good mental health – after all, we are all humans.

However, with preparation, mindfulness, and a gentle return to a ‘real life’ routine, one can transition smoothly to work without much stress or complications.

In brief

Coming back to work after a vacation is challenging for nearly everyone.  But with the right approach in place, you can make the transition even more enjoyable. So channel your refreshed energy into the right direction and you will be back at it before you know it.