This summer, I took several weeks of vacation. It was “one for the books,” as they say. Amazing experiences, adequate time to recharge and refresh my mindset, and unforgettable moments with my family—all invaluable for leaders to prioritize in order to lead at their best.
When you take a break from work, it can be difficult to let go and trust that things will continue. It sometimes takes a few days to truly shift your mind from “work mode” into “break mode” and be present. But as a leader, you must.
Re-entering the workplace in the first few days after your break can be as overwhelming as leaving. This can be true for any length of time away, whether you were on an extended vacation or just shut work off for the weekend. There's a reason that the "Sunday Scaries" exist!
Setting goals and milestones to manage your time is even more important so you don’t negate the mental health break that you just had and burn out.
How you manage your re-entry can affect so many things — from your well-being, to your productivity, your team's morale, and even your leadership reputation as others observe your behaviors. Incorporating the some of the suggested practices below can help you be a more effective leader, maintain positive team dynamics, and balance your work and life.
Don’t try to do everything at once. Break up your work into digestible chunks so it’s not so overwhelming. What is urgent that only you can do, what can you delegate, and what can be done later?
Manage your expectations so that you accomplish something everyday and keep positive momentum — even if it’s just getting through 25 or 100 emails in your inbox. What are some smaller milestones that you can hit as you work towards bigger goals? Also, don’t be surprised if some things haven’t moved any further than where they were when you left.
Prioritize checking in with your team. They’ve been steering the ship in your absence. This can be a great opportunity to see where they shined and can continue to do so. It is also a chance to uncover where you may be needed in order to prioritize your time.
Process what’s taken place in your absence. Chances are, while you were away things either stayed stagnant or moved forward. What are the positives that took place and where do improvements need to be made for next time? Getting feedback from peers and team members can help inform this.
Continue to prioritize your mindset. Leaders need to prioritize self-care to lead at their best and maintain their executive presence. Time away from work shouldn’t be a solve-all for this. Continue the self-care habits that work best for you, whether it’s journaling, meditating, or taking a walk. Make these a habit, not just a practice when you take time off.
Your responsibilities as a leader are great but may be overwhelming at times. Practicing these tips when you leave for or come back from a break, you can manage the overwhelm and lead at your best.
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