After the holidays, many people throw themselves back into work at a crazy pace, even though the «enthusiasm» often does more harm than good. We’ll show you how to do it right.
After a vacation, it can be tempting to throw yourself into work with twice as much energy as you would otherwise. Why? For example, trying to make up for «lost time». Perhaps to compensate our colleagues for having to hold the front while we were not at home. But it can also be a strong motivation for some to show their employer that they are still committed to the organization and that they are valuable employees.
Whatever the motivation behind the overwork after the holiday, rushing from one extreme (vacation) to the other (overtime) increases stress considerably.
Not only does our stress level increase, but our efforts to catch up also suffer.
However, the question arises: how do we return to work after the holiday? Here are the tips from the Harvard Business Review .
Going on vacation is WORTH it!
First of all, it is worth raising awareness: going on vacation is not a «nice to have» thing, but an important element of the process of being able to perform and develop sustainably. Just as athletes take regular rest and recovery periods to perform at their best and avoid injury, workers need time to recharge.
Research shows that those who do not take advantage of the opportunity to rest, recharge and regenerate are at greater risk of exhaustion, low motivation, poor performance and burnout. While those who take regular vacations experience better sleep, greater job satisfaction, greater engagement, and higher work performance.
The human body and brain are simply not designed to handle chronic stress.
There’s plenty of evidence that disconnecting from the burdens and demands of work not only reduces stress, but also increases productivity and boosts creativity. Even micro-breaks during the working day (such as stretching, some deep breathing exercises, or a little fresh air outside) can help a lot.
1) Performance-oriented thinking
Performance and rest go hand in hand, yet in the corporate world we tend to favor the former. Instead of taking rest time only as a last resort (when you are already exhausted and not productive), or perhaps as a reward when you have finally completed an important task, take the example of elite athletes and make regeneration during work a fundamental element of your strategy.
Recovery from work works best when practiced regularly and consistently.
2) Don’t shock yourself when you return!
When you return from vacation, it is common to feel that you have arrived from calm and balance into total chaos. It is worth facing this feeling. For example, schedule a day off between your return from vacation and work so you can mentally and physically prepare for the change in environment. Keep your calendar relatively empty to give yourself a chance to acclimatize and avoid overload.
3) Keep something from the vacation
What exactly helped you relax and feel better while on vacation or vacation? Exercise? The friendly meetings? Art or hobby? As much as possible, incorporate these activities into your regular weekly routine: even a small dose of rest goes a long way.
4) Communicate and protect your boundaries
Returning from vacation is a great time to review the boundaries you set at work. Let everyone know when you’re available and when you’re not. If the demands of the job begin to exceed your role or comfort level, talk to management about reassigning responsibilities and see if you can delegate tasks.
Keeping boundaries helps you define other people’s expectations of you and helps protect your rest time.
5) If the environment is toxic, get out of it!
If you are in a work environment where you feel that free time is almost a crime, where self-sacrifice and overtime are excessively rewarded, then you are working in an unhealthy environment. Such a work environment can be a hotbed of exhaustion and burnout, so you might want to consider quitting or developing an «exit» strategy.
6) Preventing overwork even before the vacation
The next time you go on vacation, try to make things easier in advance. Make sure someone can replace you weeks before you leave. Make it clear that if you need to be contacted during your leave, when and who can do so. And of course, plan your return in advance to make the transition easier.
