Mental reset after Christmas break

Feeling a little off-focus after your holiday? Here are some simple ways to ease back into work mode. I just got back from a holiday in Europe—lazy mornings, breathtaking views, and zero deadlines. It was bliss. But stepping back into work? Let’s just say the struggle was real. If you’ve ever felt the same post-holiday brain fog, you’re not alone. Here’s what I’ve learned (and tested) to shake off the slump and get back into the groove: 1️⃣ Take it easy on Day 1: Don’t dive headfirst into the chaos. Block time to clear your inbox, prioritize tasks, and get caught up. It’s okay to ease in. 2️⃣ Brain dump your to-do list: Write everything down, then sort it into what needs attention now and what can wait. Seeing it all laid out is oddly calming. 3️⃣ Your inbox isn’t your boss: Most emails aren’t urgent. Skim, pick the top 20 that need you, and tackle them in chunks. Deep breaths—it’s manageable. 4️⃣ Bring back your routine: Holidays are all about breaking free, but getting back into habits like journaling, yoga, workouts, or a consistent sleep schedule works wonders. 5️⃣ Set tiny goals: No need to climb a mountain on Day 1. Decide on a couple of small wins—like clearing your inbox or ticking off one lingering task. Momentum builds quickly. 6️⃣ Treat yourself: Yes, you just got back from a trip, but a little reward—a fancy coffee, a walk in the park, or even a new playlist—keeps the post-holiday blues at bay. 7️⃣ Clear your desk, clear your mind: A tidy workspace = a fresh start. It’s science (or at least, it feels that way). 8️⃣ One thing at a time: Multitasking is a lie. Focus on one task, finish it, and move on. It’s less stressful and way more productive. 9️⃣ Music is magic: Try binaural beats or white noise. I’ve been loving playlists designed for focus—they really help. 🔟 Look ahead: Use that post-holiday clarity to plan what you want to achieve in the months ahead. New projects? Learning a skill? Dream big. The first week back is always the hardest, but with a little strategy (and a lot of coffee), it gets better. What’s your go-to trick for bouncing back after time off? Let me know—I’d love to hear it!

Coming back to the office after weeks away feels different. Some things look the same, but the rhythm is not. The shutdown pulled many of us out of our routine, and now the challenge is finding our energy again, rebuilding balance, and stepping back into our goals with purpose. The hardest part for me was getting back into a real sleep schedule and shifting my focus toward what I want to finish this year. I reminded myself that one pause does not erase progress. You step back in, one decision at a time, and the momentum returns. A few simple steps help bring things back on track: • Start with one daily habit that resets your structure, like bedtime, planning your morning, or blocking an hour to focus. • Review your goals. Some still fit, others need a small update. Both are fine. What matters is direction. • Do one task that builds confidence on day one, even a small one. It helps clear that deflated feeling of walking into the unknown. • Keep check-ins short and steady. Touch base with your team, set priorities, and give yourself space to adjust. • Rebuild balance by setting limits early. Protect your evenings, take breaks, and ease back into the pace instead of jumping into everything at once. • Remember that motivation grows from action. The more you move, the easier it gets. This is a good moment for all of us to reset our approach, reconnect with purpose, and finish the year strong. The break gave us space to reflect. Now we use that clarity to chase the goals ahead of us.

I’ve already spoken to several high-performing women in law this January who are “back at work after the break” but still feel exhausted, foggy, flat, and behind. Not because they’re disorganised, not because they lack ambition, but because they never actually recovered. January isn’t exposing a motivation or a discipline problem, it’s exposing a capacity problem. We treat the Christmas break like it’s rest, but for many in law it’s just work in a different uniform and when capacity is depleted, everything else feels harder:- 🧠 Decisions take longer; ⏳ Patience runs thinner; 📉 Confidence quietly dips. The mistake is trying to fix this with better goals, tighter routines and more discipline / try harder, be more organised (whatever you tell yourself). What’s actually required is rebuilding energy first and so this is where I always start with my clients:- 🌙 Sleep before strategy; 🧹 Remove one drain before adding one new habit; and ⬜ Create white space (micro recoveries between tasks) and don't focus on optimisation. Most don't need a full reset but you do need enough capacity to meet your life without constantly pushing through it. Capacity precedes performance. Always.

Ever feel behind after travel? Me too. We all know that maintaining a routine is crucial for productivity and mental well-being. However, family trips and vacations, while rejuvenating, often disrupt these routines. As I sit on my flight back home, the transition from holiday mode to work mode begins.  Here’s what I’m doing to stay productive 👇 Before boarding, I start planning. This includes a quick review of my calendar and emails to identify key tasks awaiting my attention. This initial step helps me mentally prepare for what's ahead without diving too deep into work details. During the flight, I use the time wisely. It's a rare moment of uninterrupted focus. I prioritize tasks, set my goals for the week, and draft a to-do list. This doesn’t mean I delve into intensive work; rather, it's about organizing my thoughts and preparing a roadmap for the week.  Upon landing, the real challenge begins — here's how I tackle it, and how you can, too👇 1. Unpack Immediately. It’s tempting to leave this for later, but unpacking and organizing post-trip clutter is symbolic of getting life back in order. 2. Rest and Reset. A good night’s sleep is essential. It's tempting to jump right into work, but being well-rested improves focus and efficiency. 3. Eat Healthy and Excersize. Travel often disrupts diet and exercise routines. It's easy to land at home and order a pizza or hit a drive-thru for fast food, yet, doing so might bog you down the next day and bleed into the rest of the week. 4. Reflect on the Trip. I've found that taking some time to reflect on the trip, focusing on positive experiences helps in mentally transitioning back to work while retaining the benefits of the break. 5. Prioritize Self-Care. It's easy to dive headfirst into work, but maintaining elements of self-care is crucial. This includes short breaks, focus practice, meditation, or whatever helps you to recharge. 6. Block out "Catch-up" Time. Upon returning from travels, I allocate specific time slots in my schedule to catch up on emails and communications.  This prevents the feeling of being constantly behind or letting things fall to the wayside. 7. Stay Flexible. Returning to routine doesn't mean rigidly sticking to a schedule. Flexibility is key, as unexpected tasks or issues often arise post-trip. 8. Have a Positive Mindset. It can be stressful trying to get back into the swing of things. I remind myself that getting back to routine is a process. A positive mindset makes this transition smoother and more efficient.  Transitioning back to a work routine after a trip is about balance and organization. It involves mental preparation, prioritization, and a gradual shift back to the professional mindset, all while maintaining the rejuvenated spirit gained from the break. Save this post for next time you travel to help you get back into the swing of things once you're home 💪🏼 #routines #routine #habits #productivity

How do you reset at work after a break or quieter summer period? My tips are: don’t try to dive into everything at once – best to start with smaller tasks to regain momentum, and gradually work up to more complex projects. This will help to prevent feeling overwhelmed. After a break, take some time to reassess your priorities. Review your to-do list and deadlines and create a plan of action. Focus on what needs immediate attention and set realistic goals for the coming weeks. Use the return from a quieter period to reconnect with your team and wider colleagues. Catching up on what they’ve been working on can provide context for where you left off and help reintegrate you back into the work environment. Think about what you enjoyed during your holiday and how you can incorporate elements of inspiration into your work routine. This could include scheduling regular breaks or finding time for activities that give you energy. The post-summer period is a great time to set fresh goals. Whether it’s professional development or tackling a new project, this can provide motivation. A tidy workspace can help clear your mind and set a positive tone for getting back into the swing of things. Take some time to declutter and organise your desk and/or digital files. Transitioning back to work can be challenging, so be mindful of your energy levels. Practice stress-reducing techniques like deep breathing or going on a short walk to maintain your wellbeing. Recognise and celebrate small achievements as you ease back into work; this can build momentum and keep your motivation high as you transition back to a busier pace. Polly Dennison 10Eighty #HolidayMode #LinkedInNewsEurope

How do you reset at work after a break or quieter summer period? #HolidayMode #LinkedInNewsEurope 💣 For the past 35 years, I have found that resetting at work after the holidays can be a challenge. I follow the below steps, it helps me transition back smoothly and productively. I hope you will find this helpful: 💥 Plan Your Return – you should not go on vacation without planning your first week after holidays: Do not think that coming back you will hit the ground running. Accept that the first few days back might be slower as you get back into your rhythm. I always leave with my desk clean and ready for when I come back. So before you get back into your major projects, ensure your digital workspace is ready for it. 💥 Review and Prioritize Tasks – I call it the ABC of resetting – the Always Be Coordinated tasks: If you are like me, when you come back you have hundreds (maybe thousands) of emails waiting for you. Scan through your inbox for any urgent messages, but don’t try to respond to everything at once. Focus on those that need immediate attention. I write down (or use apps) to list out tasks that need to be tackled, prioritizing them based on deadlines and importance. Regularly I use post its and delete items once they have been done (it feels very good!). 💥 Set Realistic Goals – as mentioned in the first point, do not hit the ground running, be prepared: Instead of diving into big projects, break them down into smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Set Short-Term Goals: Set a few achievable goals for your first week back to build momentum, get your confidence back and your head screwed on properly. 💥 Re-establish Your Routine: Get back into your regular work routine, but be flexible as you readjust. Allow yourself short breaks to ease back into work, especially after periods of intense focus. Tell your team(s) about your vacation, feel the good it has done to you! 💥 Reconnect with Colleagues: Spend some time reconnecting with colleagues, catching up on what happened while you were away. Engage in collaborative work or meetings early on to re-establish a sense of teamwork. 💥 Focus on Well-being: I maintain good habits, such as eating well and staying hydrated, to support my energy levels. Have a read at the work I did with the Harvard Business Review: https://lnkd.in/d2Bq4PHX I take moments to breathe deeply, meditate, or simply reflect to manage any stress associated with returning to work. It would be too bad that after 2,3 or 4 weeks away you have not taken any good out of it. 💥 Reflect and Adjust: At the end of your first week back, evaluate how you’ve managed the transition & adjust your strategies as needed. This will make you feel great as you will notice that you are more productive because you have taken that time off. I hope my experience has helped. This is something that I put in place as in Europe we have longer vacation time and coming back is a challenge.

Long weekend is over, back to work now! Resetting at work after a long break can be challenging. On a humorous note, you might say to drink as much coffee as possible and have a good cry about life's unfairness. But if you're seriously looking for advice, here's how I manage returning from PTO: I usually allow myself some buffer time before diving back into work. For instance, if I'm starting tomorrow, I dedicate this evening to doing something I genuinely enjoy, helping me feel satisfied and ready. Once I'm back at work, I know there will be a ton of tasks demanding my attention. To handle this, I make a list of all the tasks and use a priority matrix to sort them—tackling the high-priority ones first and saving the lower-priority tasks for later in the day. In addition to managing tasks, I make a point to reconnect with my colleagues, catch up on updates, and share stories from my trip to lighten the mood. I also ensure I’m fully up to speed by reviewing all the emails I missed. While returning to the usual corporate grind after a holiday can be frustrating, I try to view it as a chance to refresh my mind and recharge after a well-deserved break. To further ease the transition, I sometimes start by setting small, achievable goals for the first few days back, which helps build momentum without feeling overwhelmed. I also like to review my calendar to identify any upcoming meetings or deadlines, so I can plan accordingly. If possible, I try to leave a little flexibility in my schedule to deal with any unexpected tasks that might arise as I settle back in. Lastly, I find that reflecting on the highlights of my break and thinking about how I can bring some of that energy into my work helps maintain a positive mindset as I readjust. #HolidayMode #LinkedInNewsEurope

The Sunday scaries after the holidays are real. Your inbox is full. Your calendar looks chaotic. Your brain is still half on vacation. Here’s how I reset on the first Monday back Start simple. Ask yourself one question: "What does a successful day actually look like today?" Then focus only on the basics that create momentum. Here is a suggestion of a to-do list that can set you up for success. 1. Clear your email inbox - If you closed a deal last week: Send thank-you notes to your champions, Introduce post-sale or implementation teams, Set the account up to win after the signature 2. Clear your Slack inbox - Read and close threads - Leave channels you no longer need - Reduce noise so you can focus 2. Get ahead of calendar chaos: This week is prone to cancellations. - Confirm customers accepted invites - Send a short, personal reminder - Add a clear agenda to every customer meeting - Cancel internal meetings that are not truly necessary 3. Clean up your Pipeline (Use your Gong Deal Board) - Close-lost or push dates on deals not closing in January - Find deals with no next meeting and get one scheduled - Find deals with no activity and create movement - Build a clear action plan for every January deal 4. Finish with a plan for the week - Not the month. - Not the quarter. - Just this week. We have 26 days left in January. Every single one of them counts. Momentum beats motivation. Systems win.