Beat the 'Back to Work' Blues
This summer I was lucky enough to get away for two weeks. I read three books in the sunshine by a lake, enjoyed some fantastic food, and even managed to slow down my busy brain for a while! I distinctly remember thinking: “Wouldn’t it be great if life was really like this, and I never had to go to work again.”
Unfortunately, I did have to go back to work. Don’t get me wrong; I like my job and I get on well with my colleagues, but it’s not like being on holiday. Apparently I’m not alone in my reluctance get back to the grindstone. According to a recent survey by Investors in People, “one in three dreaded going back to the office after a week off and two out of five take at least a day to settle back back into a regular working pattern.” (The Daily Mail)
I woke up on my first morning back at work and whined: ‘I don’t want to go to school!’ It really does feel like that sometimes. But I’m not a kid, I’m a grown up with a proper job, money to earn, and deadlines to meet. So how do I suck it up and get back into a routine? Here’s my plan…
1. Appreciate the holiday
The fact that I wish I was still on holiday means it must have been good! I can count my blessings for the relaxing break. I might even try to plan my next holiday, or book in some annual leave so that I have something on the horizon to look forward to.
2. Open a new chapter
Instead of thinking of going ‘back’ to work as a step backward, I need to think of the new challenges and opportunities that are open to me this month. Holiday season was great, but now it’s work season, and there are good things to be found even in work!
3. Get interested
Lots of people find that when they return from a break, they’ve lost interest in their work. What I really need is to get my teeth into a project. It doesn’t really matter what the job is; my attitude towards it is what counts the most.
4. Change up a gear
Many employers report that staff come back from holiday with a ‘go-slow’ attitude, which can last for days or even weeks. I know I’m guilty of that. So I’ll set myself some tight deadlines and give myself no excuses. If I have to finish a task by the end of the month, I’ll aim to get it done by next week. If I’m busy, I won’t have time to get bored!
5. Find some purpose
The great thing about a decent holiday is that it reminds you that you are more than just your job. The flip side is that you can return feeling like you don’t identify with your work at all. I tend to need a reason to do things; simply working through ’til five to earn my salary just isn’t enough to keep me motivated! So I’ll meet with my manager and set myself some goals. Then I can tackle an assignment knowing it will challenge me, or that my individual skills contribute to the overall project.
If I can leave my holiday behind, recognise the worth of my job and find some motivation to get my teeth into the work, I’ll beat those ‘back to work’ blues in no time.
Written by Becky Matyus.
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