How to Get Your Rhythm Back After Taking Time Off
As a strategist and consultant for business owners, watching my clients schedule and prepare for time off during the holidays to recharge and enjoy their families brings me great joy. But sometimes they can be so eager to get back into their work life that they go full force, only to run out of steam quickly. So how do you get your rhythm back after taking time off?
There’s a lot of pressure to sign up for webinars and workshops, go to networking events, etc. You do not have to acquiesce to the nervous energy of other people who are going from zero to 100 miles an hour. January isn’t about jumping in full speed ahead - it’s about recalibrating your rhythm. It’s like getting back on a bicycle. Give yourself some time to get past the wobbles, then acknowledge that you got this - you know what you’re doing.
You didn’t just take a day or two off. You removed yourself so you could fully immerse yourself in joy, relaxation, and memory-making. It might have felt unfamiliar at first. But after a few days, I’m sure you settled in. It’s the same thing heading back to work. Everything needs a reset - your brain, your routines, your habits.
How do you get back into rhythm without exhausting yourself?
Slow and steady wins the race here.
Refamiliarize yourself with your routines, processes, and business development necessary to intentionally increase your momentum to your sweet spot of productivity.
Choose success over failure.
You will be out of sync for those first few days, possibly feeling disoriented or scattered. Be realistic about what you can handle.
Win that First Week. Then Repeat.
Create small wins by setting goals around a few small tasks you know you’ll get done. You’ll start to feel confident and build momentum.
Clean and organize your space.
Clean out clutter in your office, your email box, and your Google Drive. Refamiliarize yourself with your space and where you left off. This will help reduce stress, help with focus, eliminate distractions, and increase productivity.
Revisit your goals.
Are your goals still the same? When we have downtime, we are free to think a little deeper. You may have changed your mind about some things. Either way, you still need a realistic plan to move forward. Make any necessary updates and changes to that plan.
Re-establish your routines.
Get into your weekly CEO Hour routine, get back into a marketing cadence, and confirm the time on your calendar reserved for coffee chats and discovery calls. Don’t forget personal routines like taking breaks, exercising, journaling, or anything else you do for yourself.
Go through your calendar.
Make sure your calendar is properly blocked and scheduled through the first quarter at the very least, to avoid conflicts. If you have school-aged kids, be aware of school holidays like MLK Day and Presidents' Day.
As you step back into your CEO role, listen to yourself. If you find yourself saying, “I wish I had done this or scheduled that…” then put a note in next year’s calendar for adjustments, days off, or anything else. Set reminders for pivotal moments like heading into summer, the end of the summer, holiday prep, etc. As you gain insights on what works best for YOU, make sure you incorporate it the following year. This is one of my favorite tactics. My planner is littered with notes to myself and I find that every year, I continue to refine my planning, schedule, and boundaries. Embrace the empowerment of doing things your way.
FAQs
What’s the first thing I should do to get back on track?
Schedule a weekly, non-negotiable CEO hour to keep your progress and goals front-of-mind.
What do I do if I run out of energy before those first few days are over?
Focus on quality over quantity. Prioritize your top three tasks each day. Anything else you accomplish that first week is a bonus.
What if my goals have changed?
Schedule a call with me. I’m happy to chat about how you can adjust your goals and get your rhythm back.