Getting back into the swing of things
Oh the brutal irony of this blog post. Normally I’m quite good at getting back into the swing of things after a break or vacation. My life is an endless swirl of lists and that really helps in this kind of situation. BUT. Sometimes the universe doesn’t appreciate a list. Sometimes the universe doesn’t care that you have a lot to do. And sometimes the universe doesn’t care if you don’t want a horrible head cold the week you’re trying to start back at work.
So before I go on and give all my normally helpful tips and tricks for getting back into a routine after a break-allow me to advise you take everything I’m about to say with a large grain of salt. Sometimes the best of intentions are derailed by unfortunate and unexpected twists of fate. Or virus’. If that’s the case then focus on getting yourself better, and worry about getting back into the swing of things once you’re finally feeling better.
- Make lists
I find making lists in general to be quite a useful activity but the benefits are compounded when coming back from a long break. Your brain is still in holiday mode and it can be difficult to jolt it back to work/real life. For me I find that sitting down and planning out anything I can really helps. And I mean anything at all. To do lists that are specific to work, to do lists for home, and a wider to list for the entire month (or even a few months at a time) allow me to see beyond my daily tasks and have a better understanding of what needs to be done this week and this month. I also love putting even the smallest of tasks on my to do list so that I have more things to successfully tick off. I’m all about that positive reinforcement.
The other thing I like to make is a fun list. My husband and I fly back to Canada for Christmas break. We see our family and friends and spend the 2 weeks doing nothing but basking in the pleasure of their company and home comforts. It’s always nice to come back to our life here in Edinburgh but that doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier. It is the absolute worst and inevitably we find ourselves in a bit of a lull right when we get back. This is where the fun list comes in. Make a reservation at a restaurant you love, make plans for the upcoming weekend, book in to see friends, etc. Anything that gets you out of the house and stops you feeling sorry for yourself. It really does help.
2. Plan ahead of time
This may not be as useful if you’re not going away as far or for as long, but I find that preemptively doing some organising before leaving can be very helpful. It’s much nicer coming back to a clean space, especially after being trapped on an anything but clean airplane, so I find that cleaning the house ahead of time and getting all the laundry and what not sorted makes a big difference. It’s hard getting back into the swing of things and not having a massive pile of chores waiting for you when you get back sure helps. It allows you to focus on getting back into everyday life rather than feeling like you’re playing catch up.
Another thing that proves beneficial to me, especially after a particularly long trip away, is planning out the first week of meals when we get back. I tend to do this on the plane ride home and I try and keep it very simple. So while it doesn’t carry the promise of a week of gourmet cooking, it does mean that I’m not standing in the grocery store after a really long journey holding 2 pints of milk and 4 kinds of bread because my mind can’t decide whether this is a good idea or not.
3. Make small and concrete goals
Nothing is worse than coming back to work after a holiday and feeling like you’re accomplishing nothing. I’m convinced that filling my first day back at work with really short and concrete tasks rather than larger ones such as “work on methods section” is the key to happiness. Instead of sitting in front of a blank page or a mess of text waiting to be edited, which will inevitably cause my mind to wander back to my holiday, I can focus on the task at hand. Even if it’s something small, like reading a particular paper, having a tangible task to complete allows you to feel like you’re making some kind of progress.
4. It’s all in the details
As soon as I get back from a trip I immediately wash my hands, unpack everything, pop the suitcases away and the kettle on, and will only sit down once this is all finished. I then light my favourite candle, wrap myself in a blanket and hot water bottle (as the heat in the flat has inevitably been off and it will be freezing) and exhale. I will not feel like I’m home until I’m under that blanket. I know that many are fine with the remnants of a suitcase hanging around for a few days but even just typing that sentence bothers me. So maybe that’s the real advice here-find what works for you. Maybe having a suitcase lying around just means you’re taking your time getting back into the swing of things and that’s what you need. Making having everything put away helps your mind feel clearer. Do what you need to do! For me this involves clearing the space so it feels as typical as possible, and all the comforts brought on by a cup of tea and a blanket.
5. Be kind to yourself
Sometimes I’m an expert at getting back into the swing of things. Sometimes I’m up bright and early the day after we arrive back and I’m at work ready to go at 7 am like no time has passed. And sometimes I’m not. Sometimes I wake up feeling completely rubbish and jet lagged and find myself in a funk that lasts a week. And that’s fine. It’s frustrating and often accompanied with feelings of apathy and sadness but that’s okay. Because it’s only temporary. You will get back into it. Just take it a day at a time and do what you can. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Little by little, small task by small task you’ll be back in the swing of things by the time you’re booking your next trip.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
-Sinéad
