Reducing Your Just-Back-From-Vacation Stress

An ironic yet widespread source of stress this time of year is the jarring adjustment of returning to work after a well-earned vacation. Here are some tips on not only easing the adjustment, but actually making the most out of it.

The First Day Back

Since the first day is always the worst, give yourself permission to take it easy that day. Don't even try to be your normal "110%" work self...you'll just make the adjustment that much worse.

Instead, devote the entire first day to getting organized. Go through your inbox and email and simply prioritize everything in terms of urgency of response. Your first day is all about setting your priorities for the rest of the week.

If you use Microsoft Outlook, this is the perfect time to use the program's "flag" feature. Just a few clicks and you've sorted your email action items. You can set flags for different kinds of action required (such as "call back" or "review and respond") and you can even attach due dates and times. Then all you have to do is look in your "For Follow Up" folder (under "Favorite Folders") and only your flagged emails appear. It's really helpful.

Avoid meetings at all costs! They managed to get by without you for this long, so one more day of not sitting in endless meetings certainly won't kill them. The only exception should be status/update kinds of meetings...nothing in depth, just enough to help you get a grip on the priorities. And even at that, only have these meetings in the afternoon.

Just remember: your top priority should be setting priorities.

Resolutions Revisited

Rather than viewing your return to work as an exercise in digging yourself out, try taking the "glass half full" approach and view it as a fresh new start...sort of like January all over again.

Naturally there's a lot to catch up on. But this is also a good time to take stock of how you're going against those New Year resolutions. Or, if you're like most people, the vacation also meant a sabbatical from your normal eating habits and exercise regimen.

So as long as you're getting yourself reorganized and back up to speed, take stock of your personal health goals and make the appointment for that check-up you've been putting off.

And Don't Forget To Adjust Your Chair

One last tip: take a few minutes to readjust your chair. Click here to read the simple step-by-step approach I wrote about in January.

Oh, and welcome back.