It doesn’t have to be stressful.
Let’s learn how to overcome post-vacation anxiety.
Returning to work after a relaxing vacation can be overwhelming, especially when faced with an overflowing inbox. The stress of trying to get everything done before your vacation often comes back just as strong when you return, almost making the benefits of your precious time off disappear; does this type of Post-Holiday Blues sound familiar? You’re not alone.
In this study published by the American Psychological Association, its reported that “nearly a quarter of working adults (24 percent) say the positive effects of vacation time — such as more energy and feeling less stress — disappear immediately upon returning to work, the survey found. Forty percent said the benefits last only a few days.” Its not difficult to guess why. We’ve all been there.
This article will guide you through effective methods to optimize your inbox organisation, and helping you maintain a calm state for both body and mind.
here are few strategies to get fairly quickly on top of things and reduce anxiety.
Hybrid “master of Zen” Hero
Coping with Post-Holiday Anxiety
Ease Back into Your Routine
Avoid jumping straight into work mode. Take a day to settle in, unpack, and mentally prepare for your return to the office. Don’t worry about your work tasks just yet—there will be time for that.
Plan Your First Day Back
Create a to-do list the night before your first day back to prioritize tasks and set realistic goals.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Well
Good nutrition and hydration significantly impact your energy levels and mood. The gut is directly linked to the brain, and its health is crucial to reducing the risk of anxiety and depression. A healthy gut can positively influence your mental well-being. Read more about the gut-brain connection.
Take Breaks
Schedule short breaks throughout your day to avoid feeling overwhelmed and maintain productivity. Learn about the importance of taking breaks in the Harvard Business Review.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Ensure you get enough rest to recover from any travel fatigue and to be more productive at work. Discover the benefits of sleep.
Smile for No Reason
Smiling, even without a specific reason, sends positive signals to your brain, helping to improve your mood and reduce stress. Explore the impact of smiling.
Breathe Consciously
Check in with yourself periodically. Close your eyes and focus on your breath, slowing it down if necessary. Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest, and put a light smile on your face. Read about the benefits of mindful breathing.
Connect with Colleagues
Especially if you work remotely, remember that we are social beings. Make an effort to connect with your colleagues. Understand the importance of social connections.
Take Screen Breaks for Your Eyes
Every 20-30 minutes, look away from your screen and focus on something in the distance to avoid eye strain. Learn about eye health and screen breaks.
Organising Your Inbox Quickly
- Prioritise Tasks: Use a task management tool or a simple list to prioritise your tasks based on urgency and importance.
- Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve in the first few days back to maintain focus.
- Tackle Emails Efficiently: Allocate a specific amount of time to go through your emails (e.g., 30-60 minutes) and use the following strategies to manage your inbox effectively.
Tips for Tidying Emails in Outlook
- Use Folders and Categories:
- Folders: Create folders for different projects, clients, or types of emails. Drag and drop emails into these folders to keep your inbox organised.
- Categories: Use colour-coded categories to quickly identify and group similar emails.
- Rules and Filters:
- Set up rules to automatically sort incoming emails into folders based on criteria such as sender, subject, or keywords. Go to “Home” > “Rules” > “Manage Rules & Alerts” to create and manage rules.
- Search Folders:
- Create search folders for frequently accessed or important emails. Search folders are virtual folders that show emails based on specific criteria. Right-click on “Search Folders” in the folder pane and select “New Search Folder.”
- Clean Up Tool:
- Use the “Clean Up” tool to remove redundant emails in a conversation. This tool moves redundant emails to the “Deleted Items” folder, keeping only the most recent message. Go to “Home” > “Clean Up” > “Clean Up Folder” or “Clean Up Folder & Subfolders.”
- Ignore Conversations:
- Use the “Ignore” feature to move all messages in a conversation to the “Deleted Items” folder and prevent future messages from that conversation from reaching your inbox. Select the conversation, then go to “Home” > “Ignore.”
- Archive Emails:
- Move older emails to the archive to keep your inbox clean. Use the “Archive” button or drag and drop emails into the “Archive” folder.
Flagging Emails
Flagging emails is an excellent way to keep track of messages that require follow-up or further action. When you flag an email, it is added to your “To-Do” list in Outlook, ensuring that important tasks don’t get overlooked. This practice helps you stay organised and prioritise your workload effectively, especially when managing a large volume of emails after a vacation. Adding reminders to flagged emails can further enhance your productivity by ensuring you receive notifications for critical tasks
Additional Resources
- Task Management Tools: Tools like Trello, Asana, or Todoist can help you organise tasks and collaborate with colleagues.
- Email Management Tools: Tools like Boomerang for Gmail or Clean Email can help manage your inbox more effectively.
- Mindfulness Apps: Apps like Headspace or Calm can help you manage stress through guided meditation and mindfulness exercises.
PS: to book your next leave, there is always HybridHero ;)
By implementing these expert strategies, you can smoothly transition back to work after a vacation and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Organising your inbox with these tips will help you stay on top of your email and reduce the stress of catching up (Well+Good) (CareerAddict) (FlexJobs).