5 Ways To Ease Back Into Work Mode

It's always hard to get back in the groove after a prolonged break from work and school. Our responsibilities don't wait for us once our time away is up! Here are 5 ways to ease back into work mode to make the transition a bit easier!

I get it! I've been there (am there). Going back to work and school after a long break, the holidays, vacations, etc. is never easy. Even if you enjoy the work you do or know you just have that final push till the end of school, transitioning back can feel a bit daunting. After a stretch of relaxation and no deadlines, we tend to fall out of our groove and need some help easing back into our old productive habits. Here are my favorite 5 ways to ease back into work mode for a little more ease and a lot less pain!

1 - Plan it out - Before you jump back in, set aside some time to sit down and plan out the coming weeks, months, semesters, etc. Use a planner to make down any deadlines you know need to be focused on first, map out goals you'd like to reach, start setting up an editorial calendar for the next few months of blogging or work, and for college students. specifically, go check out the syllabi for your new classes and write down those assignment and test due dates!

2 - Focus on quality sleep - Regardless of taking a break or not, for me personally, sleep is always #1. When I'm on break or vacation, I keep my sleep consistent, however, I know that's not the case for everyone. You may be staying up later, waking earlier or later, changing your cycle day after day. Then you try to jump back into your normal work routine, "jetlagged" (even if you didn't travel) and things are an even bigger mess. One of the best things you can do for yourself to ease back into your work routine is focusing on quality and consistent sleep. Make sure you start a few days before you have to go back. Set an alarm to GO to bed, set one to wake and the right time, no technology, drink some tea, read a book, listen to some calming music, and really let your body rest so it can be energized to power through the next day!

3 - Reset the body - Along with sleep, focusing on your diet and activity is crucial! For instance, this past month you may have been consuming a bit too many Christmas cookies 😉 Nothing wrong with that, but to get yourself well-equipped with the energy you need to ease back into work, you'll need all the nutrients you can get. Whole, minimally processed foods that don't need a label. Better yet, why not take the day before you go back to work or school and do some meal prepping! Make a large batch of hummus, some veggie burgers to freeze and reheat as needed, healthy sweet bites for snacking, some easy overnight oats for your first breakfast back!

You shouldn't stop moving your body during vacations and breaks, but if you ended up missing your workouts too many times, you're probably feeling more sluggish than you have to! Get out for a walk, doing some morning yoga, and while you're working on all those emails waiting for you and new assignments to start, take 15 minutes breaks to get up and jump around, do some pushups, or run up a flight of stairs! Get your endorphins flowing again to help propel you forward and get back not only your working mojo, but your fitness mojo too! It will help clear your head and get you thinking more clearly and more focused!

4 - Plan some "Mini Funtivities" - One of the hardest things we have to overcome to get back into work mode is losing all the fun and spontaneous activities we were likely indulging in during out time off. How can we keep those fun feelings alive no matter what time or season we're currently in? Plan out some mini fun activities "funtivities" to look forward to weekly! It's Monday night and you know you still have 4 days to get through, go treat yourself to a relaxing "spa" treatment by soaking in the tub with some candles! Friday night and you want to celebrate your first week back? Cook up a fancy dinner from a new cuisine you'd like to try! Maybe it's that slow midweek Wednesday and you need a coffee fix. Take a mini adventure to a new-to-you coffee shop and order something special for yourself!

5 - Restock on essentials - Lucky for us college students, we have a nifty resource to help us out on this one. From textbooks, new notebooks, printers, ink, all the "office essentials" and dorm decor we need; college students can sign up for Amazon Prime Student for free 2-day shipping, exclusive college discounts, unlimited steaming on select online content, and so much more! Students can sign up at no cost for the first 6 months and then receive 50% off of the 1regular Amazon Prime Membership at only $49 annually! It always gets me motivated to have fresh new supplies to break in at the start of a new semester or post-vacation break! Not only for school, but for my business as well. Amazon has everything I need at a click of a button (we all get motivated by online shopping!)

So tell me:

+ What are some of your ways you help to ease yourself back into work/school mode?

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.