The summer holidays are officially over. While taking time away to relax, reflect and recharge has its benefits, it can be hard to return to your usual routine, particularly when working from home. If you struggle to stay motivated and productive, you’re not alone. Many professionals experience the post-holiday blues after enjoying some time off. So, what can you do to refocus and rediscover your motivation this September?
Here, the experts at Pro Plus share their top tips to ease you back into work and get ready to tackle your to-do list.
Get organised
In case you don’t have your to-do list prepared, it is time to start making one. By writing down and prioritising all the tasks that you need to complete, it will become easier to tackle your work. You can break down large projects into actionable tasks to make it more manageable. Ticking off tasks after completing them, whether big or small, will give you a sense of accomplishment and boost productivity.
Work when you’re at your most productive
Nobody sprints through their work from morning to evening – your motivation and energy levels will naturally ebb and flow throughout the day. When you’re working from home, however, it’s even more important to predict when those ebbs and flows will take place and plan your schedule around it.
To capitalise on your most productive periods, save your harder tasks for when you know you’ll be in the right headspace for them. Use slower points of the day to knock out the easier, logistical tasks that are also on your plate. Experts calls these tasks ‘small acts of success’, and they can help build your momentum for the heavier projects that are waiting for you later.
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With hundreds of emails, meetings, and tasks to catch up on, it’s no surprise that so many of us feel stressed when returning to work after annual leave.
Ongoing stress can make us feel sluggish and negatively impact our performance and motivation. From time to time, we could all use a little mental boost. Pro Plus Ultra is the UK’s first cognitive energy enhancer to contain a unique blend of vitamins and botanicals, including slow-release caffeine, that are clinically proven to increase focus and stave off both mental and physical fatigue, aiding productivity. Thanks to the powerful adaptogen Ashwagandha, Pro Plus Ultra helps to reduce stress levels and aid mental clarity, helping you power through your to-do list.
Take a break and get outside
Research shows that taking 15-minute breaks every 90 minutes will re-energise you and help increase productivity. While it’s slightly different for everyone, most of us aren’t capable of truly focusing for more than an hour and a half at a time. So, don’t power through every client call, report, and meeting without one. You’re doing yourself a disservice.
Make sure you get up from your desk during those breaks – get some fresh air, grab a healthy snack, and talk with another human being if possible. All these activities will help you reset, get your blood flowing, and make sure you’re ready to tackle the next chunk of tasks.
Focus on the positives
It is completely normal to not feel excited about work 100% of the time. Especially after enjoying a vacation where you could let go of all your professional responsibilities. Even though it is easy to focus on the negatives of your job rather than the positive aspects, it will not do you any favours. By adopting a positive mentality towards your profession, you will find more enjoyment in completing your daily work activities.
