Leadership Tip

How to beat the back-to-work blues

After a carefree summer on the beach, getting back to work can be a shock. No one enjoys going back to the grindstone after a fun-filled break, but is there any way to prevent all the energy and optimism you felt while lying on a sun lounger from evaporating overnight? Here are a few tips on how to ease the transition.

  1. Manage your responsibilities while away. Decide before you go on holiday what you can safely leave behind. It may make for a more enjoyable holiday and a less stressful return if you check in occasionally rather than just worrying about the email accumulating in your inbox.
     
  2. Reserve a day for catching up. If possible, take an extra day at home to catch up on cleaning and laundry and so on. It took time for you to unwind – take extra time to ease back into the routine.
     
  3. Empty that inbox. When you get back into the office, take an hour or so to sort your emails. Scan for the important ones and delete the rest.
     
  4. Stick to the routine. To avoid the post-holiday blues, get back into your usual habits as soon as possible. Stick to routine meal and bedtimes and don’t skip regular activities such as workouts. Make relaxation a part of it – unplug from your phone and take a walk. This will help you ease back into the swing of things.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.


For more tips...
on leadership and management good practice, subscribe to a
Minute with Montgomery on 10TV.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Unlock your potential

Whether face to face, or over the telephone, we can develop your leadership skills, support you in making important decisions, and help you reach your potential.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 questions leaders should never ask

Leadership is often portrayed as having the right answers. In reality, great leadership is more about asking the right questions. Questions can open minds, build trust and encourage innovation. Equally, they can shut down discussion, create... read more

10 ways to build your team

Everyone would like to be part of a dream team - a group of people, each skilled in their own discipline, pulling together to achieve more than they ever could alone. Yet while most organisations talk about teamwork, they still tend to reward individual... read more

10 weekend habits of purposeful leaders

The most impactful leaders know that success doesn’t come from working around the clock - it comes from working with intention. And that includes how we spend our weekends. While weekdays often revolve around performance, the weekend is a chance to reset... read more

Leadership Tips

HOW TO LEAD WHEN YOU KNOW DIDDLY SQUAT

I may be five years late to Clarkson’s Farm, which is especially remiss given that Diddly Squat is almost on my Cotswold doorstep. Having now completed Series One, I understand why it has attracted such affection. When the farmer who had worked the land... read more

HOW TO MAKE AMBITION SERVE YOU

For most of my life, ambition was an ally. It helped me join the Royal Navy at 16 with no qualifications, rise from the lower deck to become an officer, build a second career in financial services and create TEN. Every chapter rewarded the same formula:... read more

HOW TO GET YOUR BOSS TO WANT A COACH

Senior leaders often receive less honest feedback precisely when they need it most. Suggesting that your boss needs help, however, is unlikely to end well. The secret is to make coaching feel like an opportunity they have chosen, not a remedy you have... read more