A few simple techniques may help you

ease back into the office after a break.

Report: Emily Chantiri

l Remaining in a relaxed state of mind

after a break from the office can prove

challenging when you return to find your

email box is full and deadlines looming.

On the last night of their holiday, people

can find themselves filled with a sense of

dread at giving up the holiday feeling

and settling back into the 9 to 5.

Mind coach Jacob Galea from business

and motivational coaching group GCorp

says the reason people find it hard to

come back to the office after a holiday is

because of a clash of cultures.

“One day you’re relaxed on some

beach and then the next day you’re

thrown back into a stressful work

environment,” he says.

“It’s like going from winter to summer

in a day, it’s a shock to the body and

system.”

Galea recommends a few simple

techniques to help. He suggests going

through the work diary the night before

heading back to the office to start

mentally preparing for work.

“Prepare yourself the night before so

you know what you’re in for and get

your work clothes out, too,” he says. “If

you’re prepared, the shock of going back

to office the next day won’t be as tough.

“Even if you’re the type who likes to

hit the ground running, or [the type to]

ease into the work – it’s a personal

preference.

“Just like when you’re at the beach,

some like to ease themselves into the

water, others just dive in. Just do what

feels right for you.”

In the office, visualisation is a great

tool to keep you relaxed as the mind

does not know the difference between

what is real and what is imagined, Galea

says. Spend 10 minutes visualising

yourself lying by the pool in that relaxed

state when you get to work. This simple

technique can be used through the year.

“You can keep this up as long as you

like because your mind doesn’t know the

difference, although you don’t want to

stay completely relaxed because you

might be left behind the game,” he says.

“You still need to get your work done.”

He also recommends bringing a few

mementoes from trips to the office such

as postcards, coffee mugs or photos as a

reminder of the break.

Other 10 minute “exit strategies” such

as tai chi or meditation are beneficial if

you start to feel overwhelmed. Booking

short trips throughout the year may help

you cope as well.

“Don’t wait till the end of the year to

take a big holiday, take a week off every

quarter, because every 12 weeks or so,

you know you’re going to get a break

again,” Galea says.

“Think about it now, if you know

you’ve got a holiday coming up, instantly

you’ll feel relief is on the way.”

Barbara Pocock, director of Centre for

Work and Life at the University of South

Australia, says that more than one in two

Australians did not take all of their leave

last year.

People who take regular leave should

be congratulating themselves because

they are the ones who feel better about

their jobs and have much better worklife

outcomes than those who don’t take

leave.

“The best intentions about hanging on

to that holiday feeling are not worth

much if your boss asks too much of you

and does not consider a life beyond the

workplace,” she says.

“Our research shows that finding a

decent supervisor who genuinely gets

that, one who is flexible with employees’

working time and job conditions, is vital

to hanging on to the holiday effects.

“Getting a good fit between the hours

you want to work and those you have to

work are also factors that are important

to feeling good about work and home.”

Pocock agrees with Galea and says

plan the next holiday soon and make

sure you take it.

“Remember that no one will

remember those extra work hours you

put in when you are dead; however, your

friends and kids will remember the times

when you were hysterically funny and

great to be with on that 2011 holiday,”

she says. BRW.