After the festive and often hectic holiday season, returning to work can be a difficult transition. You may be feeling burnt out from the hustle and bustle of holiday celebrations and family visits or, alternately, you may be struggling to readjust to your normal work routine after some good ‘down-time’. Either way, it's completely normal to feel a bit off balance after the holidays, but with a bit of preparation and self-care, you can make the smooth transition back to work a smoother one.
Here are some tips to help you adjust to returning to work after the holidays.
Start preparing for your return a few days before you are due back at work. This can help you ease back into your work routine and mentally prepare for the transition.
Take care of yourself. Make sure you are well rested and have eaten a healthy breakfast on your first day back. It can also be helpful to get some exercise to help reduce stress and increase energy.
Plan ahead and prioritize your tasks. Look at your schedule and make a list of the most important tasks you need to accomplish. This can help you stay organized and focused.
Be patient with yourself. It may take a little time to get back into the swing of things, so try not to get overwhelmed or frustrated.
Reach out to coworkers or your supervisor if you need help or clarification on any tasks. They can offer support and guidance as you get back into your work routine.
In addition to these five, here are a few more that may be especially relevant for those in the motion picture/film industry:
Make sure you are up to date on any new developments in the industry. This could include new technology, trends, or changes in the way things are being done.
Set aside some time to catch up on any projects you may have missed while you were off. This could include reviewing notes, emails, or other communications from your colleagues.
Take advantage of any downtime to rest and recharge. The film industry can be demanding, so it's important to take care of yourself to avoid burnout.
Reach out to your network. If you have been out of touch over the holidays, now is a good time to reconnect with industry contacts and see what opportunities may be available.
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Whether it's with a specific project or just getting back into the swing of things, your colleagues and supervisor are there to support you.
A Year of Kindness
As we look ahead to the new year, we also have the opportunity to consider what we want our experience of work to be like in the coming year. A few months ago we wrote a post called Crew Call: Kindness where we looked at how we can all work together to ensure our workplaces - productions, sets, trucks and studios - are safe and supportive environments for ourselves and those we work with. We found there is one simple yet profound behaviour that is proven to both soften and strengthen workplace cultures – and that is kindness. A small act of kindness can go a long way to making someone's day lighter, and in turn creates a positive ‘ripple effect’. We can all use a little more kindness to get us through these turbulent times, so please take a moment to check the post out here.
We hope these tips are helpful as you return to work after the holidays. Remember to be patient with yourself and prioritize self-care to help you successfully transition back into your work routine.
Suggested Reading for new perspectives in this New Year:
The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life (Kindle/Paperback)
Discover the twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity and a sense of possibility into all of your endeavors in this bestselling guide.
The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life's Hurdles
Resilience is a crucial ingredient–perhaps the crucial ingredient–to a happy, healthy life.
Comments