It’s 2024 – 3 Effective Strategies to Defeat Back-to-Work Inertia

Before we let fear creep into our minds, let’s explore three back-to-work strategies to liberate ourselves from the post-holiday blues.

Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash

Is the prospect of going back to work sapping your January joy? From attempting to jumpstart your New Year resolutions to the inevitable struggle of remembering passwords, are we just keeping it real? Is it too early to yearn for “wellness” and “self-care” after indulging ourselves following a challenging 2023?

1: Extend Fairness to All, Including Ourselves

I learned this valuable lesson from a mentor years ago: leave your “out of office” message on for an extra 3 days. This not only grants you some breathing space but also affords others the opportunity to catch up on their tasks.

Typically, those sending you work-related emails, including the occasional narcissists, prioritise task distribution over concerns about your return-to-work date. Be fair to everyone, including yourself, and let them get their job done.

The best gift you can give yourself is to be well-prepared, for today is all we have, and we cannot control tomorrow. If we find ourselves unable to gather our thoughts and responsibilities after three days, there may be deeper issues at play.

Let’s also remember those who didn’t have the luxury of a year-end break. Before we start voicing our complaints, think about them. A burst of A-type energy on the first day of work won’t earn you any friends. Unless you wish to shoulder the entire workload alone, let’s avoid insensitivity.

2: Understand Your Clients, Boss, and Team’s Mindset

A wise leader once taught me that understanding the current situation is the key to success. Get ahead of the curve by reconnecting with your colleagues and understanding their frame of mind. This not only demonstrates your value as a team player but also helps you prioritise your tasks more effectively.

We all have clients or superiors who demand immediate attention. One effective strategy to overcome lethargy is to handle the tasks that you excel at first. This will ignite your work momentum, making it easier to tackle more complex assignments.

However, it’s important to keep your desire to please in check, especially if you’re not yet fully prepared to tackle tasks that are urgent but not necessarily important.

3: The Act First (Before Overthinking) Approach

Not everyone wakes up with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Our minds often experience sleep inertia (commonly known as brain fog) upon waking, which can lead to reluctance and, eventually, fear and discouragement.