5 Easy Ways to Get Back on Track After a Vacation
Best collaboration tool tricks to establish a work routine
October 20, 2023
Welcome back to your first week in the office after some much-needed time off! You’re probably staring at your computer screen, wondering how to shift your focus back into work mode after taking PTO.
The transition back to work can be challenging, but we’ll show you how you can get back into your daily routine in just a few easy steps.
Why Do You Feel Unproductive After a Vacation?
According to a poll taken by Zapier and Harris, 87% of knowledge workers dread returning to work after a vacation. Studies show that 37% of workers have a hard time reestablishing a routine after taking PTO, negatively impacting their productivity.
Moreover, 31% of employees miss high-priority deadlines when trying to catch up on administrative tasks. 23% of workers feel out of the loop on projects started while they were gone, leaving them confused when they get back to work.
If you’ve ever felt the same, know that you’re not alone. Here’s how you can overcome that vacation slump and get back into your work routine.
How to Redevelop Your Work Routine After Taking PTO
Plan before you go
Creating a to-do list of all the tasks you need to get done can help your mind refocus after a long vacation. You can add checklists and link related tasks together for easy access. Nothing gives you a confidence boost quite like checking things off your list as you get them done!
Let your coworkers know about upcoming vacation in advance by setting a reminder using your Google or Outlook Calendar. Share your approved PTO request via a relevant channel so your team has some notice in case certain tasks need to be taken care of before you go.
Make your first day back a catch-up day
On your first day back to work, try not to schedule any meetings so that you have time to check all your notifications. This will help you focus on getting back into your routine and catching up on what you missed.
Check for replies to task reports, company updates, or past messages that need your immediate attention. That way, you can pick up right where you left off, with complete context, as if no time has passed!
Check your calendar
Get an overview of any meetings scheduled for the day you return by checking your Google or Outlook calendar within Swit. If a meeting is necessary, simply join using Google Meet by clicking the link in the right panel.
If someone sent you a meeting invite while you were out, find out the urgency and ask to reschedule for a different day if possible by sending them a chat message. Give yourself the day to catch up and slowly ease back into work mode.
Get aligned
It’s important to check in with your team and ensure you’re on the same page regarding any projects initiated while you were on vacation. Coworkers can share task cards to channels and tag you with status updates so you’re able to jump in where needed.
If you received any emails relevant to a specific project while you were out of the office, you can convert them into new tasks or add them to an existing task card to make sure the work history is available to everyone involved. Touch base with multiple workspaces from a single screen by using the right panel for cross-departmental collaboration.
Create an environment for focus
It may be difficult to be attentive at work if you’re still reminiscing about your vacation. Ease your transition back to work by setting up your perfect focus environment. This could include listening to your favorite music, cleaning your workspace, getting a morning workout in, or meditating.
Schedule “focus time” on your calendar for the start of the day as you create your to-do list for the week. This indicates to your coworkers that you’re at work but not yet available. Make sure to set boundaries with your team and let them know you’ll be slow to reply as you catch up on notifications.
Upgrade Your Internal Communication Tool
It’s important to take time for yourself and establish a healthy work-life balance so your time off rejuvenates you, and you can bring that energy back to work. Swit has the tools you need to rehumanize your workspace and manage tasks, allowing you to enjoy your vacation worry free. Contact us to see how we can help keep you on track to meet your goals all year long.
Ashley Mae Orcutt, Creative Copywriter
