Why it is not smart to go back to work right after your vacation

You haven't seen your desk or laptop up close for weeks, and once you're comfortably back on your bike, you get a shock. It's time. You're going back to work. The vacation is completely over.

At least until Christmas, you're glued to your office again, and secretly, that's quite nice. Getting things done, working in peace, no more interruptions, and performing at your best. You no longer have to think about a bikini body, and you can enjoy working overtime because the nice weather to go to the beach is long gone, thank goodness. Still, there are a few things you better not do when you just got back from vacation and are heading back to the office with your sun-kissed face.

For instance, you're significantly less productive exactly one day after your vacation. Suppose you come back late Sunday night from your holiday; you won't be moving mountains Monday morning. It's better to stay home for another day. Really. Always start working a day later, even if you think that one extra day off isn't necessary. You need to settle in, to land. First, do the laundry and unpack your bags, only then will your mind be ready for meetings and deadlines. You simply can't switch from airplane mode to working life within three hours after your weeks of princess life on the tropical island. You shouldn't feel guilty about it.

By the way, taking that Monday off has another big advantage. This way, your first workweek is a bit shorter. That makes you work a lot more effectively on Tuesday because you know you only have to work four days instead of five. And if you can choose, don't come back on Sunday but on Saturday. That way, you can hold on to that vacation feeling just a little longer because you still have a weekend in Holland as a gift.

Best tip: leave your out of office on for one more day on that first workday. This way, you can calmly catch up on your emails without being immediately overwhelmed with new questions. Don't overwork in the first days, even if you're a bit behind; otherwise, you'll be craving another vacation within a week. Take it easy, get used to the work rhythm again, and after the first week, you can go full throttle again.