Easing Back To Work After Christmas? Here's How To Cope

As the festive glow fades and the new year begins, many across the UK are facing the inevitable return to work. That familiar feeling of dread, low energy, or even anxiety as the weekend draws to a close is incredibly common, even if you generally enjoy your job. It's less about a lack of motivation and more about adjusting your mindset after weeks of a slower pace. Psychologists suggest these "Sunday blues" often stem from anticipatory stress. Our brains predict the demands of Monday and kickstart a stress response early. The key, experts say, is to create a gentle transition between your relaxed weekend and work mode, making the shift feel less abrupt. Simple strategies can make a big difference. Try to avoid any work-related tasks on Sunday. Instead, plan something enjoyable for Monday morning, like a favourite coffee or a podcast, to give you something positive to look forward to. Spending your Sunday doing something absorbing – whether it's exercise, catching up with friends, or a creative hobby – can also help fully occupy your mind and prevent worries from creeping in. Establishing small, familiar rituals can also ease the mental load. This could be a short walk, a warm shower, or simply laying out your clothes for the next day. If worries persist, especially at bedtime, try a "thought download." Spend a few minutes writing down any tasks, anxieties, or decisions swirling in your head. Externalising this mental clutter can reduce anxiety and improve sleep, as your brain no longer feels the need to constantly rehearse them. For those whose anxiety extends beyond Monday morning, the issue often isn't motivation, but simply feeling overwhelmed. After an extended break, it's natural for concentration to feel lower. Instead of seeing this as a setback, view January as a crucial transition period to intentionally redesign your working habits. One powerful practice is to **track your time**. For the first few days back, observe how you actually spend your hours. Many of us react to emails and meetings, then wonder where the day went. Monitoring focused work, screen time, and meetings can highlight unproductive habits and where your time is genuinely going, allowing you to make conscious changes. Next, **manage your energy**. Pay close attention to what tasks or conversations leave you feeling drained. Once you identify these patterns, you can group demanding tasks together, shorten meetings, or schedule challenging work for times when your energy levels are naturally higher. Finally, **create structure**. While it might sound restrictive, structure actually fosters freedom. Time-blocking your calendar, batching similar tasks, and prioritising your workload can significantly reduce mental overload and decision fatigue. When everything feels urgent in January, a clear system helps you focus on what truly matters, preventing early-year overwhelm. Even experienced leaders use these techniques. One CEO shared how she focuses on deliberate rituals like a consistent sleep schedule and good nutrition. She also sets small, achievable tasks for her first days back to build a sense of accomplishment rather than defeat. Crucially, she makes time for human connection with her team before diving into tasks and encourages lower expectations for everyone in the initial days back. By taking a proactive, mindful approach, you can transform the dreaded return to work into a smoother, more manageable transition, setting a positive tone for the year ahead. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.bbc.co.uk | Read original article