Source : THE AGE NEWS
By Emily Chantiri
We’ve all been there: you’re on holiday, enjoying time on the beach or with family. Suddenly, your thoughts drift back to work and your anxiety levels rise. Feeling stressed at the end of a holiday ahead of returning to work is a common phenomenon among workers.
At the beginning of 2024, research from Gartner’s Global Talent Monitor (GTM) which tracks employee perceptions of physical, mental and financial wellness found employee wellness reached an all-time low of 28.1 per cent at the start of a new work year.
Thinking too much about work while you’re on holiday? You’re not alone.Credit: Shutterstock
Aaron McEwan, VP, Research & Advisory at Gartner said this sharp slip could herald a year of declining wellbeing for Australian workers.
“Many workers will head into their break feeling mentally burnt out, stressed about the cost of living and worried about what their working future holds,” he says.
If you’re feeling stressed or struggling to regain your work mojo after some time off, behavioural science expert Karla Orth says there are some tips and tricks you can employ to help transition back to work.
“Rather than diving in headfirst focus on smaller, manageable tasks (and wins!) during the first few days back, they can rebuild momentum without feeling overwhelmed,” she says.
If you are waking up dreading your job over several months, it may be time to look for another job.
Re-establishing your workplace routines can also help. “Familiarity provides a sense of stability and predictability, potentially reducing a sense of anxiety and reduces decision fatigue by almost automating your daily activities,” Orth says.
“Rebuilding your workplace connections can also help. Social support provides comfort and emotional reassurance, which can alleviate anxiety. When people feel like they have someone to rely on, it lessens the fear of navigating challenges on their own.”
Assistant Professor of organisational behaviour at Bond University, Dr Libby Sanders, says planning before you go on leave can help in terms of finishing urgent projects. Delegate work where possible and set realistic expectations when you return.
“Understanding also that there is a normal period of adjustment in returning to work after vacation and that you may feel strange or unhappy for a couple of weeks,” she says. Having workplace social activities when people return to work can also help.
“Managers can take steps to stay close to their teams and talk through goals and concerns of their team and make sure people feel supported.”
How to know if it’s time to change jobs
Sanders adds, If you’re struggling to get back into the swing of work after the first six weeks, it could be time to start looking for a new role. Feeling a bit flat at work after a holiday is normal for a few weeks, but any longer, and it may suggest it’s time for a new job or a break.
“If you are waking up dreading your job over several months, and you have attempted to make changes with your manager and team and nothing has changed, it may be time to look for another job.”
Leadership expert and author of the book Bosses Behaving Badly, Dr Paul Donovan adds alternatively, you could be experiencing a concerning gap between what’s important to you about work, and what your job allows. He calls this a ‘values collision’.
He suggests writing down what kind of work satisfies you, and what kind of environment you would love to do that work in.
“Writing something down is a powerful step in realising your aspirations. This helps determine if what you want from your job can be achieved currently, or whether it’s time to look elsewhere,” he adds.
“Approach your manager or HR department, to see if changes into your current role could help. If no joy, it might be time to update your LinkedIn profile and call that recruiter.”
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