How to Return to Work After a Holiday Without Feeling Overwhelmed

How to Return to Work After a Holiday Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Returning to work after a short holiday or time off can often feel more challenging than expected. Despite taking time to rest and recharge, many professionals experience a sense of overwhelm within hours of being back: facing an overflowing inbox, competing priorities, and the pressure to immediately resume full productivity.

Fortunately, there are several evidence-based strategies that can make this transition smoother and more sustainable. Here are four proven approaches to help manage the return to work effectively:

1. Ease into your schedule

Rather than diving into high-pressure tasks or back-to-back meetings, consider easing into your first day. A 2022 study published in Organisational Psychology Review found that employees who structured their return with lighter, administrative, or routine tasks experienced significantly less stress and better productivity throughout the week. Starting with lower-stakes activities allows time to reorient, review priorities, and regain mental momentum.

2. Schedule a buffer day

If possible, plan to return from holiday a day before resuming work. Research from the Journal of Applied Psychology highlights the value of a “buffer day” in maintaining the psychological benefits of time off. This transition period can be used to unpack, reset routines, and prepare mentally for the work ahead. Without this buffer, the shift from holiday mode to work mode can feel abrupt, potentially undoing the restorative effects of the break.

3. Prepare for your return before you leave

One of the simplest yet most effective strategies is to plan your return before you go. Writing a short “return-to-work” note with key tasks, priorities, or in-progress projects can provide valuable context upon your return. It reduces the cognitive load of trying to remember what was left unfinished and allows you to start the week with greater clarity and purpose.

4. Practise self-compassion

Feeling a little scattered or less productive after time off is entirely normal. Research from the University of Bath indicates that practising self-compassion: treating oneself with patience rather than self-criticism can improve motivation, focus, and emotional resilience. Recognising that re-entry takes time helps reduce unnecessary pressure and supports a healthier return to routine.

Incorporating these small but strategic adjustments can make a notable difference in how professionals reintegrate after a break. By planning ahead, allowing space to transition, and being realistic about the initial pace, employees can preserve the benefits of their time off and return to work with greater energy and focus.

Whether you're returning from a long weekend or a proper holiday, these approaches can help you hit the ground running without burning out in the process.

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