People take breaks from work for all kinds of reasons. Some sip margaritas in the Bahamas for two weeks; others are at home with a new baby, and others may be forced to take time off while they battle a serious illness. Whatever the case, that first day back to work can be both exciting and nerve-wracking.
Depending on how long you were gone, you may be coming back to new projects, new coworkers or other unexpected changes. That’s in addition to the transition back into your old routine. If you’ve been practicing organizational strategies such as taming your email inbox, your transition back to work will be much less hectic.
Instead of stressing on your first day back, here is how to focus on work to get yourself back into the work groove.
Do Nothing the Day Before
If you come home from vacation on Sunday night, you won’t be very productive on Monday morning. The same goes if you’re running endless errands the day before. You might want to tie up loose ends before returning to work, but it’s best to take it easy the day before going to work.
You play a different role when you’re away from work: student, caretaker, patient or beach bum. It takes time to get back into the working mindset, and you need that one day to clear your head and make the transition back to employee.
Get a Good Night’s Rest
The first day back will be harder than you might anticipate. Trying to get through it on four hours of sleep or with a hangover will only make it tougher. Go to bed early so you can return with the right energy and temperament to face the day.
You already know what can happen when you don’t get enough sleep. Those effects can be even more pronounced when you’re going back to a job you haven’t done in a while. Some people need more sleep than others, but try to get at least eight hours of sleep the night before going back to work.
Start the Day Early
One reason to get to be early is because you’ll need some extra time to get reacquainted with your office, paperwork and other workplace issues. Your colleagues will be ready to go once the work day begins, so get in a little early and get caught up.
Just as you’d do warm-ups before working out, give yourself an hour for low-effort activities before everyone else comes in. Check emails, read office memos or just sit at your desk with a cup of coffee. Whatever you do, use the time to get ready for the day ahead.
Take it Slow
Some cars can go from zero to 60 in five seconds. Mentally, it’s a lot harder for people to do this. You won’t have the same stamina as before, especially if you were out because of an illness. Don’t feel like you have to jump in head-first on your first day back.
You’ll have a full plate already, so don’t volunteer to take on additional projects. Focus on small and easy tasks and save larger tasks for another day. Go out for lunch instead of eating at your desk. After a day or two, you’ll be ready to return to your normal hectic pace.
Don’t Do Overtime
It’s not uncommon to work late because you want to get ahead or because the job calls for it. However, constantly working overtime can cause all kinds of health problems. Some of these ripple effects include drugs and alcoholism. Working overtime might be standard practice in your office, but try not to make it a daily habit or you may end up taking the 12 step program to recovery.
Sickness plus overtime equals disaster. The body doesn’t heal as quickly when it’s under stress, so burning the midnight oil won’t make your transition any easier. Even if you can’t stick to a 40-hour work week over the long term, allow yourself to do it when you first go back.
Whether you’re excited to get back to work or dreading the thought, follow the tips above and that first day back won’t seem so overwhelming.
Author: Jesse Aaron is a professional blogger with a passion for homebrewing. He writes on a variety of topics on his blog, Mashbout. Follow Jesse on Google Plus.