Taking time off work is crucial for your health and well-being, whether it’s summer vacation, Christmas break, or time away from work for any reason. However, it can be tough to get back on track afterward. Craving another vacation right after you have had one is common, but it can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed pretty quickly.
The good news is that there’s more than one way to keep that well-rested spirit while feeling productive as you return to work. Here are a few ideas on how you can take charge of your life post-work break.
1. Don’t Over-Schedule the First Days
It might be tempting to dive right back in, but getting back to being productive without a smooth transition can be overwhelming. If possible, try to avoid back-to-back meetings and never-ending lists of chores. Starting with the tasks you haven’t finished before your leave could be less stressful than taking up numerous new to-do’s.
Use the right tools for time management and prioritize only the most important tasks. Things 3 is a good place to start—branded as the best personal task management app, Things 3 helps you plan your day, add tasks, and set priorities and reminders. However, it comes with a price tag ($10 for the iOS app and $50 for the desktop version).
Google Keep is another great tool to organize your life: this app allows you to take notes, categorize them and store them all together, so you never get lost. If you need to present them in a professional setting, the app can even transform your notes into Google Docs. The best part of Google Keep? It's completely free to use! It makes for a good alternative to those of you who prefer bullet points and notes to organize your days.
Download: Things 3 for iOS ($9.99)
Download: Google Keep for Android | iOS (Free)
2. Do More of What You Love
Resume your routines, whether it is working out in the morning or grabbing a coffee from your favorite coffee shop on the way to work—doing things that bring you joy helps with easing your return to being productive. Trick your brain by starting new healthy habits or picking something you enjoy before taking a break.
If you need some help with habit building, try Habit List—an app that gently guides you towards a better, more organized version of yourself. It helps you to develop new habits, from personal (such as cleaning or a workout routine) to work-related (paperwork has never been easier) ones.
In case you need some extra help getting up in the morning and starting your mornings in a productive way, Loop Habit Tracker is another app for you. Not only does this app suggest ideas to help you build positive routines, but it also reminds you to follow up on your goals every day.
Download: Habit List for iOS (Free, In-App purchases available)
Download: Loop Habit Tracker for Android (Free)
3. Plan Something Exciting
You’re back from your vacation, but already dreaming about the next trip? Plan it right away! You’ve always wanted to take up a new hobby, but kept postponing it? Now might be a good time to start!
Whatever it is, having something that you look forward to will act as added motivation to wake up from the holiday hiatus and work towards your dreams. There’s nothing like going back to work knowing you’ve already booked your plane tickets for the next trip or that pottery class you've been long dreaming about is waiting for you at the end of the work week.
Soon App helps you discover and plan for fun activities like movies, shows, or even books—browse through thousands of suggestions, choose your favorite pastime and fill your calendar with exciting activities. And if you’re into mood boards, you can create (and share!) a digital one in a few minutes thanks to apps like Milanote.
Download: Soon App for iOS (Free)
Download: Milanote for Android | iOS (Free, In-App purchases available)
4. Optimize Your Sleep Schedule
Getting enough sleep is key to keeping both, your body and mind, healthy and happy. 8 hours of sleep is considered the most optimal solution for working adults, so don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Waking up feeling fresh and well-rested will help you with tackling the day ahead, and, luckily, there are ways to get better sleep.
Pillow is a free iOS app that tracks your sleeping habits by connecting to your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. It gives you insights into your sleep cycles, the quality and duration of your sleep, analyses your heart rate, and much more.
And if you’re having trouble falling asleep, try Smiling Mind—a free mindfulness app for beginners, designed to help you meditate. You can choose one of its numerous programs, from sleep to relationships to stress management.
Download: Pillow for iOS (Free, In-App purchases available)
Download: Smiling Mind for Android | iOS (Free)
5. Plan Your Meals to Cut Down on Junk Food
Meal planning might not be the first thing on your mind when returning to work, but it has at least two enormous benefits. First of all, it will save you a lot of time and money every week. Most importantly, it will help you to cut down on junk food and takeaways, keeping you healthy and productive!
If you don’t have time to search for recipes, try Mealime—a meal-planning app that is perfect for all busy bees. All you need to do is add your food preferences and the app will suggest numerous recipes for you—all of which are supposed to take you no more than 30 minutes. It will then generate a grocery list, so you don’t have to think about it twice.
Another good option is BigOven. This app works similarly to Mealime—it caters to your dietary preferences, based on your likes and dislikes. The app has more than a million recipes in its database for you to choose from, and you can save your own recipes from across the web. The best feature of this app? You can type in up to three ingredients, and it will come up with a recipe, so you can easily use your leftovers!
Download: Mealime for Android | iOS (Free, In-App purchases available)
Download: BigOven for Android | iOS (Free, In-App purchases available)
Easing Your Way Back to Work After a Break
It’s not easy to get back to being your productive self after a work break. The stress of going back to work and endless to-do lists can be truly overwhelming, but there’s something you can do to make the transition as smooth as possible.
The key to this transition is a strategic approach: planning wisely, finding the right motivation, and having something to look forward to are vital. However, you should always remember to take care of your health first—and, fortunately, there are many apps that can help you with that.