Skip to product menu
close
  • Recent Launches
    Press Space or Enter to display list of options
EXPLORE ALL PRODUCTS

Recent Launches

New

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Try now
New

Robotic process automation software to automate high-volume, rule-based tasks.

Try for free
New

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

Try now
New

Business formation service to launch and grow your businesses.

Try now
New

Privacy-friendly application analytics solution.

Try for free

Sales

 
CRM

Comprehensive CRM platform for customer-facing teams.

CRM
 
Bigin

Simple CRM for small businesses moving from spreadsheets.

Bigin
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
RouteIQ

Comprehensive sales map visualization and optimal route planning solution.

RouteIQ
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Suites
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

CRM Plus

Marketing

 
Social

All-in-one social media management software.

Social
 
Campaigns

Create, send, and track targeted email campaigns that drive sales.

Campaigns
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
Survey

Design surveys to reach and interact with your audience.

Survey
 
Sites

Online website builder with extensive customisation options.

Sites
 
PageSense

Website conversion optimization and personalisation platform.

PageSense
 
Backstage

End-to-end event management software.

Backstage
 
Webinar

Webinar platform for webcasting online webinars.

Webinar
 
Marketing Automation

All-in-one marketing automation software.

Marketing Automation
 
LandingPage

Smart landing page builder to increase conversion rates

LandingPage
 
Publish

Manage all your local business listings on a single platform.

Publish
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
LeadChain

Sync, manage, and convert leads across channels seamlessly.

LeadChain
 
NEW
CommunitySpaces

Online community platform for individuals and businesses to grow their network and brand.

CommunitySpaces
 
Suites
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Marketing Plus

Commerce and POS

 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce

Service

 
Desk

Helpdesk software to deliver great customer support.

Desk
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
FSM

End-to-end field service management platform for service businesses.

FSM
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Suites
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Service Plus

Finance

 
Books

Powerful accounting platform for growing businesses.

Books
 
FREE
Invoice

100% Free invoicing solution.

Invoice
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Inventory

Powerful stock management and inventory control software.

Inventory
 
Billing

End-to-end billing solution for your business.

Billing
 
Checkout

Collect payments online with custom branded pages.

Checkout
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Practice

Practice management software for accounting firms.

Practice
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce
 
Suites
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Finance Plus

Email and Collaboration

 
Mail

Secure email service for teams of all sizes.

Mail
 
Meeting

Online meeting software for all your video conferencing & webinar needs.

Meeting
 
Writer

Word processor for focused writing and discussions.

Writer
 
Sheet

Spreadsheet software for collaborative teams.

Sheet
 
Show

Create, edit, and share slides with a sleek presentation app.

Show
 
Notebook

Beautiful home for all your notes.

Notebook
 
Cliq

Stay in touch with teams no matter where you are.

Cliq
 
Connect

Employee experience platform to communicate, engage, and build positive employee relations.

Connect
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
TeamInbox

Shared inboxes for teams.

TeamInbox
 
WorkDrive

Online file management for teams.

WorkDrive
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Office Suite

Powerful collaborative work platform for teams.

Office Suite
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
Calendar

Online business calendar to manage events and schedule appointments.

Calendar
 
Learn

Knowledge and learning management platform.

Learn
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
ToDo

Collaborative task management for individuals and teams.

ToDo
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
FREE
PDF Editor

Collaborative online PDF editing tool.

PDF Editor
 
Suites
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Workplace

Human Resources

 
People

Organize, automate, and simplify your HR processes.

People
 
Recruit

Intuitive recruiting platform built to provide hiring solutions.

Recruit
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Workerly

Manage temporary staffing with an employee scheduling solution.

Workerly
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Shifts

Employee scheduling and time tracking app.

Shifts
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Suites
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

People Plus

Security and IT Management

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Directory

Workforce identity and access management solution for cloud businesses.

Directory
 
FREE
OneAuth

Secure multi-factor authenticator (MFA) for all your online accounts.

OneAuth
 
Vault

Online password manager for teams.

Vault
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Toolkit

Complete resource for any admin-related lookup queries.

Toolkit
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA

BI and Analytics

 
Analytics

Modern self-service BI and analytics platform.

Analytics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep
 
NEW
IoT

Harnessing IoT analytics for real-time operational intelligence.

IoT

Project Management

 
Projects

Manage, track, and collaborate on projects with teams.

Projects
 
Sprints

Planning and tracking tool for scrum teams.

Sprints
 
BugTracker

Automatic bug tracking software for managing bugs.

BugTracker
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo

Developer Platforms

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Flow

Automate business workflows by creating smart integrations.

Flow
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA
 
NEW
Apptics

Application analytics for all apps.

Apptics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
NEW
IoT

Build, deploy, and scale IoT solutions for connected businesses.

IoT
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep

IoT

 
NEW
IoT

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

IoT

Search Result

 
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

Try now
CRM Plus
 
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Try now
Service Plus
 
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Try now
Finance Plus
 
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

Try now
People Plus
 
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Try now
Workplace
 
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Try now
Marketing Plus
 
All-in-one suite

Zoho One

The Operating System for Business

Run your entire business on Zoho with our unified cloud software, designed to help you break down silos between departments and increase organizational efficiency.

TRY ZOHO ONE
Zoho One
Zoho Marketplace

With over 2000 ready-to-use extensions across 40+ categories, connect your favorite business tools with the Zoho products you already use.

EXPLORE MARKETPLACE
Marketplace
Skip to main content

Back to work after the holidays: Reignite your productivity

  • Published : November 28, 2024
  • Last Updated : December 13, 2024
  • 446 Views
  • 6 Min Read

No time to lament the beaches and brunches—the holidays have ended, and it's time to get back to work.

For many, this transition can feel daunting. After days filled with relaxation, family time, and zero deadlines, the thought of diving back into work routines is overwhelming.

Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be such a big shock. Let's explore how to return to work feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready for the year ahead.


Back to work after the holidays

What’s so hard about returning to work after the holidays?

Returning to work after a period of rest is both a psychological and practical challenge. Studies have shown that employees often struggle to regain their pre-holiday productivity levels. The main challenges are:

  • Motivational lag: After experiencing unstructured days and freedom, the rigid structure of work routines feels like a jolt, and the well-known feeling of stress is going to hit like a freight train. Instead of forcing yourself to face this feeling head-on, just think about the refreshing feeling you have by being on holiday. Then, proceed with your work.

  • Backlog anxiety: An inbox filled with unread emails and tasks that have piled up over the holidays is more than enough to spark feelings of anxiety and stress. Just thinking about the incoming tsunami of tasks can effectively ruin the last couple of days of your holiday. Be prudent and organize who’ll take on your tasks so all processes proceed smoothly.

  • Change in pace: Switching from a holiday pace to a high-functioning work pace can feel uncomfortable. That’s why the best move would be to add a buffer before and after the holidays. If you’re traveling a couple of time zones behind or ahead, make sure to leave one to two days before you depart and return so you can adapt back and refresh.

The key to tackling these challenges is to strategically ease yourself into work with deliberate actions designed to manage expectations, workload, and mental energy. But of course, because the past couple of weeks have been all about relaxation, this is easier said than done.

Set realistic goals for your first week back

Coming back to work with the expectation of resuming full productivity can set you up for failure.

No matter what, don’t expect to be your old self the moment you clock in. Instead, aim to set realistic goals. Start by prioritizing the most important tasks rather than focusing on all of your pending items.

  • Break tasks into smaller units: Start with small tasks that can help you regain a sense of accomplishment and control. Completing smaller tasks can create momentum for tackling larger projects. If you need assistance, talk to your teammates to get the maximum effect out of those first tasks.

  • Prioritize for impact: Focus on tasks that create immediate value or have the biggest impact on your clients. Even if the colleague who filled in for you did an amazing job, there will still be a backlog and it’s up to you to start clearing it out.

  • Plan around energy levels: Mornings after holidays can be slow; use this time for simpler tasks, and save complex work for when you feel more settled.

Revisit and refresh your workspace

A cluttered desk often results in a cluttered mind, especially if you’re working remotely. Returning to work after the holidays is an opportunity to make your workspace more organized and welcoming. First things first, you should:

  • Declutter: Remove old papers, files, and any non-essential items that have piled up over time. The best time to do this would be at the end of the vacation. Ideally, it would be wise not to leave the table like this in the first place. Whatever the case may be, don’t pressure yourself too much.

  • Add a personal touch: Bring a small item from your holiday experience to keep on your desk—a photo, a souvenir—as a gentle reminder of positive moments. In case you start feeling stress or pressure right away, this can be a useful memento to remind you of why you’re working so hard in the first place.

  • Digital cleanup: Start by decluttering your digital workspace. Archive old emails, delete unnecessary files, and organize your desktop to help create a sense of control. Make sure you return to a clean slate. Any existing clutter, backlog, or unresolved issues will slow you down during your attempt to get back into a groove.

Ease back in with a structured plan

One of the best ways to regain productivity is by having a structured approach for the first week. Break your work into phases and gradually increase the intensity of your tasks.

Why is this so important? Well, you won’t be able to finish everything in one day. That’s why your plan should look something like this:

  • Day 1: Catch up on emails and internal communications. Schedule a team check-in to realign with ongoing projects.

  • Day 2: Identify key deliverables for the upcoming week. Set aside time to plan and outline these tasks.

  • Day 3 and 4: Begin working on priority tasks, starting with smaller, manageable components.

  • Day 5: Evaluate your progress, adjust timelines if needed, and ensure that you're ready for a regular workload the following week.

Use technology to your advantage

Fortunately, Zoho Workplace can make the return to work smoother and more manageable. Leverage collaborative tools, shared folders, and cloud documents to minimize the stress of finding information or trying to remember where a project left off. In particular, you should focus on enhancing your:

  • Task management:Use Zoho ToDo to list tasks, set deadlines, and allocate responsibilities. This can help you prepare a list of things to catch up on right away and save you hours that would have been spent combing through several different platforms.

  • Shared workspaces: Start conversations and collaborate on documents using Zoho Cliq and Zoho WorkDrive, so everyone is in sync and knows what to expect. There are different levels of access to, so you can rest assured that no one will have unauthorized access to crucial, sensitive docs.

  • Automated reminders: Set automated reminders for meetings or deadlines in Zoho Calendar to ensure you don’t miss anything important. Before you return from holiday, you can start setting reminders so you can ease yourself back into action.

Reconnect with your team

Reintegrating into the team dynamic after the holidays is crucial. People have different ways of approaching work after a break, but communication can make the transition smoother.

First and foremost, you should schedule a team meeting. Use this opportunity to share updates, align priorities, and even exchange holiday stories.

Don’t forget to check in with each individual specifically. Take time to have short, informal conversations with colleagues. This can be great for team morale and makes re-engagement feel less daunting.

There’s also the more dreaded part of reconnection—coming back to hundreds of emails can create unnecessary pressure. Managing emails strategically will allow you to focus on what’s important without feeling overwhelmed. Here’s what you can do to make this easier, too:

  • Use filters: Zoho Mail allows you to create filters to prioritize important emails and segregate newsletters and notifications into folders. Not all emails will be urgent right away, so you should focus on the priority filters.

  • Adopt a two-minute rule: If an email requires a reply that will take less than two minutes, answer it immediately to reduce clutter. Use this line of thinking for the first couple of days when you’re back at work. Before you know it, you’ll take care of all your high-pressure tasks and emails, and be ready for the truly demanding part of your workday.

  • Batch process emails: Instead of sporadically checking your inbox, allocate specific time slots for email management during your first few days back.

Be kind to yourself

Last, but not least, don’t be hard on yourself. It's common to feel disoriented after a holiday. You may not be at your peak productivity during the first few days, and that's completely okay. That’s why it’s essential that you:

  • Take short breaks: Taking regular breaks can improve concentration. Get up, stretch, and refresh yourself periodically. You won’t be ‘in shape’ as much as you were before going on vacation, but this won’t last for long. It takes a day or two and you’ll be even more efficient than before.

  • Set boundaries: You don’t need to overcompensate for your time away. Stick to a regular schedule and avoid burnout. As soon as you feel like you’re back on track, you can begin ramping up.

  • Reflect on your goals: Use your time off to align your long-term goals with your daily tasks. Holidays often provide perspective, and incorporating that into your daily work can be motivating.

Conclusion: Turn post-holiday blues into motivation

Returning to work after the holidays doesn't need to be a daunting task. With strategic planning, realistic goal setting, and using technology such as Zoho Workplace, you can make a smooth transition back to work. Take this time to ease into your workload, prioritize effectively, and connect with your colleagues. Before you know it, you'll have regained your rhythm and set a productive tone for the year ahead.

Related Topics

  • Gary Stevens
    Gary Stevens

    Gary Stevens is the CTO of Hosting Canada, a website that provides expert reviews on hosting services and helps readers build online businesses and blogs. Gary specializes in topics on cloud technology, thought leadership, and collaboration at work.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

The comment language code.
By submitting this form, you agree to the processing of personal data according to our Privacy Policy.

You may also like