Try these 10 ways to reduce stress before and after your holiday.
After all, alongside the demands of daily life, some find being away from work is enormously stressful as you wind up in a rush preparing for your time off, then catching up on everything not done in your absence.
Consider these ways to reduce stress and stay relaxed before, during and after your holiday.
Before you go
1. Block time slots
If you have a holiday approaching, plan to block periods of free time as early as possible, says Maike Sauermann from the IFBG, a German workplace health consultancy.
Specifically, block time slots in your calendar when you do not schedule any appointments so you can complete your tasks before your trip. Ideally, that means you can start your well-deserved break without any unfinished tasks weighing on you.
2. Use smart email rules
Many of us dread the flood of emails waiting for us when we come back to work but you can prevent this by creating smart rules before you go away.
If someone is deputised to handle your work while you are away, set up your emails to be forwarded to them automatically during your absence. 'Your deputy can often decide which emails really need to be dealt with by you after your holiday and which do not,' says Sauermann.
3. Leave work devices at home
Packing your tablet or laptop just in case? Don't do it. Sauermann says leave everything work-related in its place. If you wish, you can take a small pad of paper with you.
'If you think about work during your holiday, write your thoughts down,' she says. Then set your notes aside to help clear your mind while preserving any important ideas for later.
4. Distance yourself from your devices
To truly disconnect from work life, you must also 'cut off' constant availability, says the IFBG. Try turning off your smartphone completely or switching it to flight mode while you are away. That should help you relax and protect you from the 'constant compulsion to stay informed', says Sauermann.
5. Do nothing for a change
Once your holiday starts, are you busy planning family outings, cooking lunch or trying to get your finances in order? Don't. Do absolutely nothing on your vacation, says Sauermann.
'Above all, avoid doing too much that is related to self-optimisation or performance.'
After a holiday, enjoy small moments of relaxation at work, like taking a longer lunch break, to help settle in better. — Pexels
Returning to work
1. Avoid starting work on a Monday
Back from your trip on a Sunday and being back at work on Monday is how many employees plan their holidays. But ideally, don't go back to the office at the beginning of the week.
Better days are Wednesday or Thursday, says resilience consultant Petra Kruppenbacher in a contribution for the Initiative for New Quality of Work (INQA).
Plan your holiday so that both the last and first workdays fall in the middle of the week so you only have a short working week.
The prospect of the weekend ahead will keep you feeling more motivated and help counter any low spirits after your trip.
2. Allow time to settle back in
You can also help yourself relax by taking time to settle back in after a holiday trip. Ideally, return home a few days before resuming work, says Kruppenbacher. That will give you time to organise daily life or household tasks and gradually adjust your sleep schedule to the work routine.
3. Set aside time to catch up
If possible, take the first day after your return to get an overview and prioritise upcoming tasks, says Sauermann. 'Then take the next few days to calmly work through your tasks and get back into a structured work rhythm.'
For this reason, your out-of-office message should not end on the day you return but at least one day later.
4. Hold on to that holiday spirit
You don't want your good mood from your holiday to be replaced by a motivation slump, so enjoy small moments of relaxation in your workday, perhaps by taking a longer lunch break far from your screen.
Thinking about a pleasant holiday experience or a fond memory helps maintain the positive holiday feeling for longer, say researchers.
Sharing experiences with colleagues or keeping a small holiday-themed postcard where you can see it at your desk can also help bring your holiday spirit into your workplace and give you new energy to start a productive work phase, says Sauermann.
5. Plan your next holiday
Plan your next short trip immediately after your holiday, says Kruppenbacher. Studies show that holidays help you relax even after just one or two days. So short breaks can definitely improve your well-being, too. – dpa
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