At this time it’s not uncommon to experience post-holiday blues. Our motivation levels aren’t as high as usual, we may feel a little unsettled and it’s very common to question our lifestyles and consider making a major change in our lives.
If you recognise any of these feelings in yourself the first thing to recognise is that it’s perfectly normal and most people will feel the same to a certain degree.
After all we’re in a period of ‘mourning’, after the possible loss of that idyllic location, sun, food, relaxation and quality time with our loved ones.
For so many of us in the industry our performance relies on self-motivation and proactivity, so not feeling 100% can be even more demotivating.
So here are some thoughts to help the transition back into our normal stride after a break:
– Accept that your mood is different, most people experience similar, it’s quite normal and that it will pass
– Set some short-term personal goals – tasks or targets that can be achieved by the end of the day, give yourself a ‘pat on the back’ when they’re done
– Plan some ‘me time’ into your day – take time out time for a coffee, read the paper or a book, go for a walk in a lunch break. The sort of thing you had plenty of time for on holiday but may feel you can’t justify at work
– Diarise some time to plan next year’s holiday – having something in the future to focus on is highly motivational
Taking any or all of these steps will help feel more in control, lifting our mood and in turn improving our performance at work – which is usually what pays for a holiday after all.
Peter Welch is intermediary director for MyTouchstone
