It happens every year: the roughly two and a half months that children spend on summer vacation adversely affects their overall learning from the school year (although how much and why is not clear). It’s a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.”
While this effect is most prominent in school-aged children, you might have felt a similar phenomenon yourself, coming down from a long (or short) summer vacation, begging the question: can adults experience the summer slide, too? If you’re an employer, the answer is you bet! (If you struggle to keep your employees motivated during the summer months, check this out.)
We all need a vacation now and again. It’s important to recharge your batteries, unwind, and unplug from the stressors of daily life. In the long run, it makes us more productive and improves our morale.
At the same time though, you likely find yourself a little disoriented on your first day back at work after spending time away. It takes some adjustment to return to a normal state of productivity and organization. From forgetting your login to neglecting basic tasks you usually complete with ease, it’s typically a little rough getting back into the swing of things.
However, there are some steps you can take before your return to work to try and alleviate some of the brain fog.
Go over your game plan the night before
If you roll out of bed without preparing for your day the night before, you will still be in full vacation mode come morning. Setting aside some time after getting home from your trip—at least a few hours—to go over your plan for the next day, get acclimated, and unpack, is essential. It’s wise to jot down a list of tasks you want to complete for your first day back while keeping expectations realistic.
Get a good night’s rest
Few people can perform at their best on too little sleep, especially if it’s the day after your vacation. Try to hit the mattress a little earlier than you normally would, even if it means reading or going over the day ahead from the comfort of your bed. Get a jumpstart on the unwinding process so you can try to catch up on the rest you likely missed having fun and return to a normal schedule as quickly as possible.
Break up the day
Try not to overwhelm your schedule on your first day back. Ease back into your routine instead of throwing yourself into the day to avoid burning out by the end of the week. You want to keep your to-do list manageable without sacrificing productivity. There can be a happy balance between easing into the work week and remaining as constructive as possible.
The summer slide is a real concern for workplace productivity, so if you’re planning a vacation this season, it’s important to remember the benefits of planning to avoid post-vacation fatigue.
