You’re a few days back from vacation, sitting at your cubicle halfway through the morning and you just can’t remember your job being quite this much of a slog. Sure, the office may not be your favorite place in the world, but your vacation was just so much fun that it’s difficult to get back to meetings and spreadsheets. Hey, who can blame you? You know it’s a scientifically proven fact that the first week back from a vacation is scientifically longer by about 16 hours. And that time is only counted while you’re sitting in a desk chair. Okay, that might be a stretch, but if you’re having trouble getting back to the grind, you’re not alone. Here are a few tips to help you rev up your engines and get back into the work routine.
1. It’s All About Perspective
Think of your vacation as energy rejuvenation. That might sound a little hippie dippy, but it’s true. You’ve had a few days (hopefully more) to enjoy spending time with your family, pursuing your own hobbies or exploring on a journey. It was a reward for all the hard work you’d done to date. Well, now it’s time to get back to business so you can earn another great trip or some cherished days off in the coming months. You’re not back from vacation, you’re taking the first steps towards your next one.
2. Dive Back Into Your Routine
Rather than being reluctant to re-enter your day-to-day, why not lean into it. Go grocery shopping, unpack, do laundry, tidy up the house. Make sure that as you get back to your routine, things are running as smoothly as possible. Going ahead and getting productive will help you readjust more easily on the whole.
3. Set a Goal and Then Stick to It
Take your refreshed perspective and run with it. Try to accomplish a small task or errand that goes outside the boundaries of your day-to-day. Going to work, getting the kids to practice, or buying groceries doesn’t count. Find something productive to do that’s outside the norm. It’ll help keep your mind focused on a project as opposed to dwelling on your cubicle predicament.
4. Find Stuff to Look Forward To
In addition to the productive stuff, you should also find reasons to get excited for something coming up in the next few months. Fortunately, we’re heading into the holiday season. While the cumulative total of the holidays might be somewhat exhausting, there’s bound to be at least one special day coming up in the barrage of holidays that will get your bell ringing. And if there’s not, you can always schedule a vacation for the future. Nothing wrong with looking forward to a little escape.
5. Drink Lots of Water
Don’t giggle. Researchers have shown that stress, depression, and general confusion were all reduced as subjects increased their water consumption. You don’t need to go “clear pee” overboard, but keeping a glass of water handy while you’re going about your day can drastically help improve your mood.
6. Have a Pocket Vacation
It seems kind of obvious, but when you’re back in the office, you’re annoyed because you’re doing fewer pleasurable things during the day than you did while on vacation. Duh, right? The point, though, is that when you’re back from vacation, try to find times throughout the day to spoil yourself or your family (remember, they’re probably not happy to be back from vacation, either).
7. Dispel Negative Thinking
It can be tempting to sit at your desk, hours from the end of the workday, and let your thoughts fall into a swirling cycle of negativity. Being a miserable butthole is taking the easy way out, though. When you find yourself falling into a pit of complaints, try to refocus your thinking on something positive, like a new project or an upcoming event.
8. Keep Going Outside
The cold, winter breezes might be tons of motivation to stay indoors, but it’s always a good idea to throw on a heavy coat and get outside whenever you can. Even if that means ducking outside for ten to fifteen minutes and taking a spin around the block out in the cool, crisp air. The sunlight will lift your spirits, even if the air is brisk.
9. Yeah, Exercise is Completely Awful, But …
Stupid science says that exercise is proven to produce opiate-like endorphins that will leave you feeling happier and calmer. If you can force yourself to get into a routine of vigorous exercise for 15-20 minutes two to three times a week, then your brain will eventually begin to produce more endorphins that will make it far easier to cope.
10. Think About Dropping a Bad Habit
You can always change your life for the better post-vacation by abstaining from something that’s potentially harmful. Are a smoker? Maybe you should consider quitting. Perhaps your drinking could use a little more moderation. Whatever it is, we all have stuff in our life that could be omitted and the only thing you have to do is literally nothing.
11. Keep Plugging Away, Because This Too Shall Pass
Your malaise is just a product of your body’s shift back into your normal routine. If you can just summon the strength to keep getting out of bed and getting through your workday, then — eventually — you’ll adjust and things will get easier. That may not be much consolation when you’re nodding off at your desk at 1:30 in the afternoon, but just keep at it, soldier, and you’ll find yourself toughening up in no time.
12. If You Need a Day, Take a Day
Okay, all that motivational self-help stuff said, if you just can’t get back into to your routine, maybe you should consider taking a day to yourself (or even springing the kids from school for a day). If you’re snapping at your coworkers of grumbling profanities while you’re filling out paperwork, you may just need a little extra time to recharge your batteries. Take a sick day for mental health.
