How soon does work burst your holiday bubble?

So you get back from your fabulous holiday – you are relaxed, you are happy, you have a smile on your face, until… You open your inbox, the phone rings, the first requests, problems and questions start coming your way. It can feel like you are suddenly under siege, and before you know it, that holiday feeling has gone.

With a little of her project magic Sarah from 54 degrees has developed eight simple pointers that could help you hang onto that feeling for as long as possible.

1. Split your work into projects That way you can easily see what needs to be done for each piece of work.

2. Create a milestone chart for each project Create a list of activities or goals for each project, with the deadline, the person responsible whilst you are away, and a note of where you are with it and what will need doing when you get back.

3. Let people know you are away Let all your valued colleagues, customers and clients know that you will be away, and how their work will progress or be supported in your absence. That way they can plan your holiday into their schedules, and you are less likely to be bombarded with panicky phone calls as soon as you return.

4. Don’t be frightened to delegate Select trusted colleagues to be responsible for critical projects or customers whilst you are away. Brief them on where you are and give them a copy of your milestone plan. You might even find some of your work has been done when you get back!

5. Control your updates If you do not want to check emails during your holiday but want some updates, ask colleagues to text you with selected information. However, do remind them that being interested in how things are going doesn’t mean you are working.

6. Clear your inbox Take a little time to clear your inbox before you go – you want to be able to see new emails when you get back, not the same ones which have been haunting you for weeks already! And of course … don’t forget to set up and turn on your out of office function!

7. Create a “first morning back list” This is my star tip – it makes your first day back so much easier if you already have a clear ‘to do’ list. Create a list of those activities which will need to be done or checked up on as soon as you return. Don’t make it too long. Around 10 items is enough to get you gently back in the swing whilst still retaining your holiday glow!

8. Keep your first morning clear This may be a step too far but at least try to keep an hour to yourself to get back into the swing before the hordes descend. Go in an hour earlier if you have to – it will be worth it!

We all work so hard and juggle so much that we need our time off. We also need to be kind to our future selves by making the most of that time off. Follow these simple tips from Sarah at 54 degrees and keep a spring in your step even after your holiday is over.