10 practical tips for a smooth return to work after a holiday

During the summer months, it is a coming and going of colleagues in the workplace. Is your well-deserved summer break nearly over and are you dreading returning to the office? Swiss recruitment specialist Robert Walters shares 10 tips that will make it just a little bit easier for you to resume work.   

1. Start your morning well prepared  

Having to get up early again will probably be hard enough. Set the breakfast table the night before and choose your outfit in advance. That way, you avoid stress even before you leave for work. Going by car? Then leave on time, as you never know if there will be traffic jams. If you are able to work from home, then that is definitely advisable on that first day. 

2. Start with a tidy desk  

If there is still clutter on your desk because you did not have the time or the inclination to do so before your holiday, clear it first. Check your mail and things that were put on your desk while you were away. Before you fly back in, look at your calendar. What is planned for the next few days? Doing so, you’ll avoid missing deadlines in your first week.   

3. Catch up with your colleagues  

Your colleagues have undoubtedly been busy while you were enjoying your holiday. Ask them what happened in the office in the meantime. Is there any news about that one file? Did they have nice weather here too? If they were not in the office either you can ask them what they have been up to so far.

Take the time to catch up with everyone, it makes that transition from holiday to work just a little easier.   

4. Handle your jam-packed mailbox smartly 

Your first day back at work is not the time to clean out your entire mailbox. It will probably be jam-packed. To get through it, create three labels. For example, red for ‘urgent’, blue for ‘less urgent’ and green for ‘I can probably delete’.  

Next, label your emails by looking only at the subject line. Once done, start working on the ‘red mails’ and leave the rest to one side until you have updated. If an e-mail is urgent, the sender will probably remind.  

5. Do not work through your e-mails chronologically 

It seems logical to start by replying to the oldest e-mails. However, this is not efficient. After all, you may answer a question that was already answered ten mails later by a colleague (who was not on holiday).  

Avoid unnecessary ‘My apologies, I just see that my colleague had already replied to your question’ emails and start at the top of your inbox. This way, you may be able to delete some old emails because they have already been resolved. Moreover, some people have noted your out-of-office dates, which means their emails are at the top of your inbox.  

6. Choose quality over quantity 

Don't get carried away with your mail. Trying to reply to everyone as quickly as possible can sometimes go wrong. If you read too quickly and miss one question, you can expect a new e-mail with the same question again. Yet another e-mail on your stack of unread messages that you could have avoided. Therefore, take enough time to read a message completely.   

7. Make a to-do list  

Now that you know which meetings are planned for the coming days and you have gone through your mailbox, it is a good idea to make a to-do list. Take a sheet of paper or a digital note and write down all your tasks. Organize them by priority or put the deadline. Then decide which tasks you need to do today and which ones later in the week. However, don't take on too much right away; it takes a while to ‘get back into it’. So, start with the small things.  

8. Postpone non-urgent meetings  

There you are with your long to-do list and your mailbox full of urgent mails. It is only logical that you would rather spend your time on that than on a long meeting. Therefore, try postponing non-urgent meetings until later in the week.  

9. Eat healthy and exercise  

Bring a healthy snack and lunch to the office to maintain your energy levels. Nutrition plays a big role in your concentration and productivity, so avoid sugary snacks and opt for fruit, nuts or yoghurt. Schedule a short walk during your lunch break. Exercise helps you stay alert and energetic. Getting some fresh air can also help you clear your head and regain focus. 

10. Allow yourself some breathing space  

If you think you will be able to work eight hours straight after two weeks' holiday, you are wrong. Don't waste all your energy on your first day. The more collected holiday energy you save today, the smoother the rest of the week will go. Don't keep working too long in the evening either; exhausting yourself on the first day is pointless.  

The first day may be a bit chaotic and you will undoubtedly feel homesick for that wonderful holiday, but before you know it you will be back in your familiar rhythm. Do you not feel like returning to work? Then maybe it is time to think about a new job...

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