No one wants to return to work after a long vacation. Returning to work often becomes a dreaded task. If you know the work has been piling up in your absence going back can be even more difficult. There are a few things that can be done to make this transition easier.
Before you go on vacation is the time to start preparing. Make notes for yourself of what your major projects are and what needs to be done when you get back so you can quickly jog your memory when you return. Little things such as turning off your vacation email or voice mail greeting can be easily forgotten if you’re overwhelmed with work when you return.
One of the first things you can do is start the mental transition early. Instead of spending that night before dreading the return to work, start to shift your mindset to what needs to get done. It’s easier to make the transition from vacation to work if you start changing your mindset early rather than waiting until you walk into the door at work. Also, focusing on the negative thoughts of not wanting to return does nothing to help your mentality.
Once your at work you will likely face a large amount of paperwork, crisis, questions, etc. as soon as you enter the door. It’s important that on the first day you prioritize your work and handle only the things that need to get done immediately.
It may be tempting to run around the office and tell everyone about your vacation but the first day back is probably not the best time. Keep a low profile and try to keep vacation talk to a minimum. The more people you visit with the more work you’re likely to end up with as people will quickly remember questions and concerns that came up while you were gone if you’re highly visible.
No one wants to return to work and if you focus on self pity rather than being proactive you only hurt yourself.
