Back to Work After a Long Summer Holiday? Here’s How to Tackle Your First Week Without Burning Out
After a full month away from the office, laptop, and Teams notifications, returning to work can feel like stepping into another world. You’ve spent weeks in a different rhythm, slow mornings, late sunsets, real conversations, and space to think. Then suddenly, you're back.
And it's loud.
Your inbox is bursting. Your calendar is filling. Your to-do list is long… and blurry. You're expected to jump in at full speed, but your brain is still somewhere between a coastal breeze and the second espresso of the morning.
So how do you make the first week back work, without letting it wipe out all the good your holiday gave you?
Here’s a guide to ease back into work with clarity, energy, and intention.
1. Don’t try to “catch up” in one day
This is the biggest trap. Many people return from holidays and feel they need to prove their productivity immediately. So they attempt to clear all unread emails, accept all meeting invites, and take back every task they handed off.
Stop. That’s not re-entry, that’s self-sabotage.
Instead, block out your first 2–3 days for what I call a re-entry sprint. This time is sacred for reading, reconnecting, reviewing what’s changed, and most importantly, reframing your role and focus going forward.
2. Start with people, not emails
You’ll get far more useful context from a 20-minute coffee chat with a colleague than from 200 unread emails. Emails may tell you what happened. People will tell you why, how, and what matters now.
Reconnect with your team. Ask what’s shifted. Listen more than you talk. Trust that relationships will always reorient you faster than documents will.
3. Revisit your priorities
The world didn’t pause while you were away—and your priorities probably shouldn’t just resume where you left them.
Ask yourself:
What’s still relevant?
What can I let go of?
What’s now most important for the team, and for me?
Even better, schedule a short 1:1 with your manager or key collaborator to validate this. Alignment now saves a month of misdirection later.
4. Protect your focus time
It’s tempting to say “yes” to every meeting, request, and decision the first week back. But that can quickly destroy any sense of focus you’ve built during your time off.
Block time for deep work. Reclaim calendar space before it gets booked. Prioritize impact over visibility. Remember: you’re back to work, not back to chaos.
5. Bring the holiday mindset into your workday
Your holiday isn’t something you need to shake off. It’s something you can build on.
Use the clarity and distance you’ve gained to:
Challenge old habits or routines that don’t serve you anymore
Introduce a slower, more intentional rhythm into your week
Question the “musts” and reconnect to the “whys”
That sense of openness, reflection, and perspective you had on holiday? That’s still within you. Use it.
Final thought: Start slow to go far
Your first week back isn’t about proving you're "back on track." It’s about setting the new track.
Return with presence. Be curious. Choose your pace. And lead by example—others might need permission to do the same.
What’s your go-to ritual or strategy for your first week back after a long holiday?
Let’s share tips below 👇
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Hell yeah! Great post!