September has arrived, and the first day of fall is quickly approaching (September 21). You’ve enjoyed the slower summer pace, and you appreciated the vacation you took with family and/or friends. Now you’re being inundated with more work emails and meeting requests than you’ve had in months. The days are becoming more stressful and your brain has not yet registered that summertime is over. Getting back into a healthy work routine at the end of summer can be a challenge, but staying organized and having a systematic approach can make it easier than you would think.

7 Tips To Get Back Into Work After Summer Vacation is Over

  1. Prioritize your emails.

If you’ve been out of the office for a while spend some time on your first day back reviewing your emails. Use the touch them once theory. Start with the oldest unaddressed emails, identify those that are high-priority and address those first. Wait to respond until you have finished your review. You may run into emails with issues that have already been resolved

   2. Create a To-Do List.

The chances are that you have a mountain of tasks to complete, from returning phone calls to addressing team concerns. Placing ‘create a to-do list’ at the top of your to-do list is a must. You don’t know what issues the day will bring so it’s ideal to get organized at the beginning. This will allow you to feel more in control of your day and in turn help you be more productive.

3. 3. Re-connect with your colleagues.

Social connections in the workplace can take a dive during the summer with flexible work schedules and summer vacations. It’s important to reignite your workplace relationships as they can decrease stress and help you be more productive. Drop by your colleague’s office instead of sending that next email. Ask questions about his summer. Encouraging people to discuss their challenges and successes with you helps to improve their performance and well-being as well. Having a strong, productive and connected team makes operations smoother for everyone.

     4. Start a morning or midday exercise routine.

Research has shown that employees who engage in physical exercise experience better job performance and a more positive mood. Try going on a morning run before work or checking whether or not there is a gym near your job. It’s amazing how 45 minutes of exercise can positively impact your day.

     5. Review how much progress you’ve made on your career goals for the year.

While summer is coming to an end there is still time to wrap up a few goals you may have been procrastinating on and even start on some new ones. Setting goals in the workplace and tracking their progress is a surefire way to ramp up your motivation when you need an extra boost. You are also likely to accomplish significantly more increasing your chances of finishing the year strong. Do a quick review whenever you need to re-energize.

     6. Wake Up Earlier.

Pushing the snooze button can be a common occurrence during the summer months. With sporadic school schedules, summer vacations, and lighter workloads, some employers are a bit more relaxed towards work schedules. This can easily transform into a habit that you have trouble giving up. Now that summer is over you may want to consider a fresh approach. According to the Harvard Business Review, you are better positioned for career success if you are most productive in the morning. It’s okay if you take advantage of the extra snooze time during the summer but make it a point to transition back to your earlier schedule shortly after.

     7. Know when to take a break.

Even after taking measures to get back into a normal work routine feeling pressure from additional work is still inevitable. Be mindful of the warning signs so you can take a break when necessary. Headache, fatigue, irritability, etc. any or all justify 10-minutes away from your desk. You can take a walk, listen to music in your car or even read a book to decompress a bit.

Evaluate Your Work Routine

Implementing just one strategy to help you transition back into work at the end of summer can help you be more productive. Consider your routine in the earlier months. Was it working for you? If so, you can focus on readopting it. If it needed some adjusting, take time to try out new strategies, and commit to those that help you be your best. And remember, on average, it take more than two months before a new behavior becomes automatic—66 days to be precise. So, be patient with yourself. You are sure to get back into the swing of things before the end of the year!