Back to work
By dpa/tmn
02 August 2024, 13:53
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For a relaxed start after your vacation, important meetings or deadlines should be avoided if possible. (to dpa: “4 tips for a stress-free start after your vacation”) Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/DPA
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In a blog post on Xing, career coach Bastian Hughes gives four tips to help you enjoy your vacation a little longer and make returning to work less stressful:
Tip 1: Plan your vacation properly
Should you schedule your last working day on a Friday so you can still make it to the weekend? This may make sense for vacation planning, but Hughes advises against it. On Fridays, many colleagues are working from home or are already on the weekend, which makes it difficult to hand over tasks. Starting your vacation in the middle of the week allows for a stress-free handover.
Monday is also not ideal as a return day, as it is often the busiest day of the week. It is better to start again on Wednesday. This gives you enough time to get used to things in peace. An additional advantage: flights and train tickets are often cheaper during the week than during the typical peak travel times at the weekend.
Tip 2: Complete tasks and return undisturbed
Try to complete any important tasks before you go on vacation and set your out-of-office message to end the day after you actually return. This gives you a day to quietly review emails and get your bearings before everyone knows you’re back, according to Hughes.
Tip 3: Take your first day at work slowly
On the first day after vacation, avoid important meetings or deadlines if possible. Instead, use the time to sort through emails and check the current status of projects. Meeting with the vacation replacement can also be helpful, says Hughes.
Tip 4: Communicate with the team
According to Hughes, an open conversation within the team about supporting each other when returning from vacation can make it easier to get back into work. It is important to be honest with yourself and your colleagues. After vacation, everyone needs some time to get back into the rhythm of work.
