by Chris Thelen

Created on: December 31, 2008

I can tell I had a good vacation when I return to work and feel the need to be retrained. The good news about the holidays is that many of your coworkers have also been off work and will be sharing the same feeling. So how do you get through that time warp between vacation and work mode? The key is in how you transition between the two.

Set the Right Tone

Your first inclination might be to jump right in and get back to work, but don't do it at the expense of reconnecting with your coworkers. Set the right tone for the New Year by taking a minute or two to ask, "How was your holiday?" While you might not want all the detail about Aunt Matilda and her fruitcake, take a moment to listen to what's going on in their world. It can also give you a fun talking point later in the year when you ask, "So did you eat all the fruitcake?" You should also make sure you plan your response when you are asked about your holiday break. Investing in a little conversation now can help you avoid negative feelings in the New Year.

Put on Your Game Face

A good vacation should help you feel laidback about things, but it's not always the best approach to work. "Hey dude, what's happenin'?" might be fine when talking to friends and family on vacation, but it's not always a good conversation starter with clients or customers. Like a good athlete, mentally prepare yourself for being back on the court with a schedule, deadlines and a full court press of work issues. Take time to anticipate what you might find when you arrive and plan accordingly.

Ramp up Slowly

Nothing gets you back into reality faster than seeing all the work that has piled up during your absence. Your first task should be to break the work into manageable bits by prioritizing what needs immediate attention and what can wait a day or two. A quick conversation with the person covering for me usually gets me caught up on what happened while I was away and identifies lingering issues that still need to be addressed. If you have an inbox full of e-mail or regular mail, sort it by ones that need a reply now and ones that can wait until later. This can help you get back into the routine without feeling overwhelmed.

Thanks for the Memories

Like rebooting a computer, after a few hours of work I can usually feel myself coming back online with the work routine. However, you don't want to totally forget your break and the holiday that is now history. Go through some of your pictures from your times with family and friends or the mini vacation you took before the New Year. Pick your favorites and put them in a photo frame on your desk to help remind you of that laidback feeling you had when you were away from work. It can be a healthy reminder of where your priorities should be in your personal life.

With any luck, after a day or two, you will be able to transition seamlessly between your work and personal world that is, until you take another break and have to start the process all over again.

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