Are you back to work ready?
It's that time of year when the back to work feeling kicks in and you're left wondering whether you really should start that yoga retreat in Ibiza/run a beach bar/become a travel blogger. Often the reality of returning to work after a holiday doesn't match up to our expectations of being calm, relaxed and ready to go, so we've compiled the following tips to help!
1. Clear your desk
A clear desk equals a clear mind. In the rush to get everything done before your holiday clearing your desk was probably the last thing on your mind, therefore the first thing to do when you return to the office is remove all desk debris. This way you can remove all potential distractions and get yourself in the right frame of mind as soon as possible.
2. Prioritise
It's easy upon returning to an overflowing inbox to try and frantically multitask through your to do list, unfortunately this is never as effective as you think. Try prioritising the most important items and working through them one by one, not moving on to the next task until the previous one has been completed; you will actually achieve more this way.
3. Use your time more effectively
Returning after a break is the perfect time think about whether you're using your time at work effectively. Do you really need to attend that meeting, or be cc'd into that email? If not, say so.
Think about where your time and energy has been wasted in the past, write it down and remember it in the future. This is the ideal moment to regain some perspective, which may not lead to you to that yoga retreat, but is a step in the right direction.
4. Don't punish yourself
It's easy to play the martyr when you come back from a holiday, never taking a break and working long hours to try and make up for your time away. Coming back from time off is actually great for reconsidering your work/life blend and implementing any necessary changes. Try and stick to reasonable working hours and make the most of the insurance market's sociable nature, that way you can still retain some of the balance you found while on away.
5. Reassess
Make the time to re-visit your development plan and think about whether you are on track for your year end review, which scarily is only a few months away. This is the perfect time to motivate yourself by considering what you want to focus on in the coming months, or what you need to change in order to achieve your goals.
6. Book your next holiday!
Got any good tips on returning to work? Let us know on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
