Don’t let going back to work after your vacation stress you out.

Struggling to re-engage after a relaxing summer? Here are some strategies to help manage your transition back to work.

Jumping back into work, no matter how long or short of a summer break you’ve taken, can sometimes feel surprisingly daunting. Planning the first few days back are essential to ensuring you don’t fill up your time with your “less important” tasks. That’s because being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. 

As easy as it is to reorganize your desk or catch up with someone you haven’t seen all summer, you likely have more pressing obligations to conquer. Be sure to plan any meetings in your first few days back effectively -- 45 minutes should be sufficient to discuss the status of projects or to kick off any new assignments.

Instead of catching up with everyone the moment you’re back, why not get out of the office for a catch-up lunch with your colleagues so you can focus a bit more on the work that has piled up since you left on vacation?

Think about your “easing in” strategy, which will be your plan of attack for your first few days back. The secret is to sort through the noise and focus on major projects that need your immediate attention. Here are a few ideas to include in your easing in strategy:

Readjusting to a proper work/life balance doesn’t happen overnight. Try not to let going back to work stress you out. Plan your days, give yourself a bit more time to complete your tasks and don’t get distracted by all of your responsibilities. Simple breathing and exercises that can be done at your desk can keep you invigorated throughout the day, and can help keep your productivity steady.