Andrew may on 2UE - Back to Work Blues

Andrew May talks with Steve Price about the back to work blues



While everyone has different needs and requirements, try the following suggestions to help you wrangle the post holiday blues and get some bounce back in your step.

1. Get organised
A major reason many people feel down when they get back into work is the fact they are disorganised and spend the majority of the working day casing their tales. Use the first few weeks back at work as a genuine opportunity to get organised and set yourself up for a successful year ahead. Think about your own personal development for the year ahead. What skills will make you more productive? How about learning a new language or a musical instrument to stimulate different parts of the brain?

2. Plan your recovery
Holidays are an essential tool to help recover, refresh and recharge. Grab your diary and plan the year ahead. Lock in your next break and this will give you something to look forward to on the harder days. Also try and lock in 2 or 3 mini-breaks throughout the year. You have a much greater likelihood of this happening if you enter it in your diary.

3. 2 to 3 week window
Don’t make major life decisions in the first 2 or 3 weeks back from the summer break. Accept that your brain might still be on holidays for the first few weeks and go easy on yourself. Where possible, try and ease back into the working mould. Working a couple of weeks at a 50% load with reduces hours or working for 3 days a week can really help (just make sure you have pre-arranged this with your employer!) This is a great alternative for the first few weeks after an exciting summer break.

4. Boost energy levels
Make a pact to keep looking after yourself now you are back to work. Don’t go from one extreme to another. Make yourself accountable and walk or swim with a work colleague 2 mornings a week, eat healthy foods that help you think and concentrate throughout the day, get plenty of sleep. And build some FUN into your life. Just because you’re back in the office doesn’t mean the Fun Police have to hit you hard for the rest of the year!

5. Seek help if needed
While it’s not unusual to feel a little down in the first few weeks back at work, if this continues for more than a few weeks and you constantly feel down, sad or depressed please speak to your GP, a health professional or a psychologist/counsellor.