After a vacation, it can be tempting to double down on work in an attempt to make up for “lost” time, or to try to hurry through the time it takes to get back up to speed. Other times, the urge to overwork stems from a well-meaning effort to relieve team members of the extra work they were covering for you, or a desire to demonstrate that even though you were away, your commitment remains high and you’re still valuable to the organization. Whatever the motivation behind post-vacation overwork, it can leave you boomeranging from one extreme to the other, which increases stress and actually undermines your efforts to catch up.
So how can you retain all the benefits of your vacation and resist jumping right back into the grind? We’re glad you asked! Keep reading for several strategies offered in this issue of Howe’s Now Monthly.
Time Off Is Essential.
First, let’s be clear that taking periodic breaks in order to reset and recover from work stress (what researchers refer to as work recovery) isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s essential for sustained performance and growth.
Research shows that those who don’t take the opportunity to rest, recharge, and recover are at higher risk of exhaustion, low motivation, poor performance, and burnout, while those who engage in regular periods of work recovery enjoy better sleep, higher job satisfaction, more engagement, and higher job performance.
So how can you retain all the benefits of work recovery and resist jumping right back into the grind? Here are a few proven strategies:
Shift to a performance mindset.
High performance and sufficient recovery were never meant to function separately. However, in many organizations, performance tends to be overemphasized while recovery is overlooked. Rather than treating time away as a last resort only after you’re depleted and unproductive, or as a special reward when your to-do list is finally done, take a cue from top athletes and include work recovery as an essential component of a high-performance strategy. Work recovery works best when it’s practiced regularly and consistently.
Prevent or ease “re-entry shock.”
“Re-entry shock” refers to the discombobulation you feel when you transition from a place of calm and equilibrium to one that pulls you into the frazzle and fray. You can prevent this by using buffers.
For example, schedule a free day between returning from holiday vacation travel and your return to work. The free day allows you to mentally and physically prepare for the change in environment.
Another tip: Keep your calendar light just after your return to work, which will give you a chance to reacclimate and avoid overwork. For instance, you might institute a two-day “no meetings” rule after returning from the holiday vacation to allow time to catch up on other action items without interruptions.
Keep some of the holiday vacation magic.
What exactly helps you decompress and feel more like yourself during holiday breaks? Is it exercise? Reconnecting with loved ones? An artistic pursuit or hobby that’s neglected during the typical work week? Simply enjoying some unscheduled leisure time?
As much as possible, build these activities and conditions into your normal weekly routine throughout the year. Remember, even small doses of downtime make a difference.
Review, communicate, and maintain your boundaries.
Returning from a holiday break is a great time to review and refresh your work boundaries. Let everyone know when you will and will not be available for work, and if work demands begin to creep past your role or your comfort level, speak with leadership about shifting responsibilities, or see if you can delegate. Boundaries should help define others’ expectations of your role, and they should protect your downtime and allow you to mentally detach from work.
Prevent the Urge to Overwork Before Your Time Off.
As you’re planning to take time off, try now to make life easier for future you.
Arrange who’s covering your responsibilities during your absence, and include their contact information in your out-of-office message. Set clear expectations for when/if you should be contacted during vacation. Structure a re-entry routine ahead of time so you easily get back into work mode.
Finally, consider conducting a premortem before finalizing your plans. What specific challenges are you expecting upon your return from the holiday break? What are their main causes? What additional preventive steps can you take now? This simple but powerful process helps further refine your pre–time off planning, which can prevent most re-entry problems.
Periodic time away from work is one of the best ways to ensure that you’ll be able to sustain your energy and productivity. With some planning before your time away and some sensible guardrails after your return, you can bring all the stress-lowering benefits of the holiday vacation back with you.