Mentally preparing for the back to work routine

Realising that the holidays are almost over and the time of returning to reality is closing in on you is like letting a child loose on an unattended cookie.

But with the right mental preparation, anything is possible, even going back to real life without wanting to throw yourself under a bus, so here are some ideas.

• Try to have two or three days after returning from your holiday to get the necessary sleep, and the planning done, before returning to work. Take that two or three days (you can even take more) to just lie back, relax and recuperate. Try to also get back into your morning waking routine, for it is hard to get back into the early morning schedule and sleeping pattern once you start work again.

Of course, one way to negate these side-effects is sticking, as far as possible, to your normal waking hours during the holiday. But that ship has probably sailed.

•Make a to-do list. It is much easier to go back to work when you know exactly what you (still) need to do. That will also help for a stress-free first day/ week back.

For example:

5pm – Date with a tall glass of Rosé.

•Take a piece of your happy place to work. It’s been proved that a souvenir connected to a place or thing that makes you happy can help change your mood. Your senses are designed and programmed to remember the feeling from a specific moment through anything connected to it. You can even take a little souvenir from your holiday.

Definitely a wine-scented candle for me.

•Bring something new to the year. To stop feeling like you are going back to the same old you, same old routine, try changing it up a bit. Trying a new style or even just getting a new pair of glasses can do wonders, and make you feel like you are starting a new adventure. You can even try to add something new to your routine or remove something old from your environment, for example, take a walk after work, or throw out that old desk calendar.

•Last but not least; try to practise a friendly, happy approach. Doing this will help you accept the fact of returning to work with a positive mindset. Try smiling and saying something positive about going back to work to your reflection in the mirror – and if that doesn’t work, you can always download the meditation app Headspace, to get you in the right mood.