Back to Business - A Guide to Overcoming Holiday Overwhelm

As a small business owner or an entrepreneur, taking a break or a holiday is essential for your well-being and overall productivity. However, returning to work after a relaxing vacation can be daunting. So, first things first, let’s try to understand why you feel this way.   

Understanding the Overwhelming Feeling  

Lots of Emails and Tasks – One of the primary reasons people feel overwhelmed after a holiday is the sheer volume of emails and tasks that have piled up in their absence. Whether it’s messages and updates from your team or clients that have ignored your ‘out-of-office’, the influx of information can leave you feeling swamped.  

Struggling to Get Back into a Routine – Taking a break often means breaking away from your usual working routine. While this change is refreshing, it can be challenging to re-establish a work routine when you return. Lack of structure and a clear plan can get you stuck in a disorganised frenzy that’s hard to escape.  

 Feeling Unproductive – After enjoying a relaxing holiday, it's common to feel less motivated or productive when initially returning to work. The contrast between the carefree holiday atmosphere and the reality of a demanding work schedule can cause a dip in enthusiasm and focus. 

These feelings are valid, but there are things you can do to prevent the overwhelm. Here are some tips to make your transition back to work easier, so you can feel good when you’re back and enjoy some peace of mind while you’re away!  

1. Create a Buffer 

Holidays are full of relaxation and indulgence. After you’ve treated yourself to lie-ins, lazy days and action-packed outings, it's only natural for your sleep patterns to have gone a bit haywire. Instead of diving straight back into work the day after you return from your break, try to give yourself a buffer day. Use this time to unpack, rest, and adjust. A gentler transition can give you the energy you need to tackle tasks when you officially return to work. 

2. Don’t Criticise Yourself 

Guilt is one of the biggest feelings business owners must tackle when it comes to holidays. Remember, everyone deserves a break, and it's normal to take some time to readjust after being away. Try not to set unrealistically high expectations for yourself – it’s not possible to function at 100% all the time. Be kind to yourself and focus on re-building your energy. 

3. Find Your Groove 

It’s important to ease yourself back into your routine gently. Start out with tasks that you enjoy the most or those that are less demanding, and get excited about work again. Jumping straight into long meetings isn’t the best idea if you’re struggling to focus. You’ll feel less overwhelmed if you’re working on things that you love to do.  

4. Extend Your Out-of-Office 

An overflowing inbox is enough to fill anybody with dread. Instead of jumping straight in and replying to everyone, why not extend your out-of-office period by a day or two to give yourself extra time to catch up? Not every email or task needs an urgent response. Make sure you evaluate your priorities and give yourself time to settle in.  

5. Grab New Opportunities 

Holidays are a great time for reflection and inspiration, by taking a step back from the day-to-day, you can think about things from a new perspective. Make the most of any new ideas that surfaced during your break. Consider how you can implement these ideas into your work and start planning actionable steps to bring them to life. Harnessing this fresh perspective can infuse new energy into your business. 

6. Re-evaluate Your Priorities 

Use the post-holiday period as a chance to assess your current priorities. Are you satisfied with the direction your business is heading? Are there any tasks or responsibilities that could be delegated or removed from your plate? Re-evaluating your priorities allows you to streamline your focus and concentrate on what truly matters.

Outsourcing tasks is a great way to maintain progress while you’re away. At Admin and More we can help you with a variety of Administration and Marketing Tasks. To find out more, take a look at our VA services.  

7. Maintain a Positive Mindset 

Going back to work shouldn’t be all doom and gloom. Think about the things you enjoy most about being on holiday and incorporate small elements into your daily routine to keep you motivated. This could include playing your favourite vacation playlist, going for a nice walk on your lunch break, or enjoying a cup of coffee in the same relaxing way you did while away.