How to Refocus: Productivity Tips After a Break

How to refocus after a break:

Getting back into the swing of things after a break can be tricky, especially when you work for yourself or from home.

Jumping straight back into your daily habits and routines can feel difficult, making procrastination and avoidance the preferred choice.

The key in learning how to refocus after a break, is to transition back to things in a more structured, yet gentle way.

Awareness of the emotions that you may also be experiencing at the end of a holiday will help you work through any ‘blue monday', back to work feelings.

Take a look at some of the tips that can make this transition feel a lot smoother, leaving behind that jet-lag feeling of not wanting to return to ‘normality'.

*Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something via the link, I may receive a small commission. This doesn't affect the price you pay.

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Importance of a Structured Return

Depending on how long your break was, and the reason why you took the break, will help you create a structured way of returning that will feel good and gently begin to challenge you.

Returning After Illness / Extended Break

If you're returning to work after an extended break, possibly from illness or personal reasons, then this needs to considered in a different way than a return after a holiday. I'll explore this more in another post, but some key points to consider are:

Be mindful of any changes in your energy levels, stamina and ability to sit and work for extended periods of time.

Consider adaptations that may be need to be made to your normal routine. For example, sitting or standing for shorter periods, the need for extended breaks, or shorter working hours etc.

Explore apps or time management strategies that can be used to support any adjustments you need to make. For example, methods like the Pomodoro Technique could be something that can help you take more frequent breaks, and focus on specific tasks each day.

Embrace Gentle Productivity and flexible planning approaches to enable you to rebuild your stamina and momentum.

Returning After a Holiday / Shorter Break

A structured approach to your return to work can help you discover how to refocus with more ease.

This doesn't mean you set a rigid schedule before you leave, then allow the image of this to imprint on your mind every day you take off… It's a “Let's go!” kind of plan, and one that will help you switch off completely – guilt-free while you take some much needed time for YOU!

Emotional Awareness – Recognising what your emotional state will likely be when you return can help make this transition even easier.

There's usually a mixed bag of feelings – excitement to be getting back to things, sadness that your holiday is over, a little bit of anxiety or worry about what's ahead, or possibly that feeling of dread that you know what's waiting for you…

Your motivation is primarily linked and influenced by your emotions. Therefore, relying on this to get you going again probably isn't the best approach.

Therefore, having a structured approach that includes a plan can make all the difference.

Set Realistic Expectations

The first thing to address is expectations. Before you go away you may have been totally in the zone, feeling on top of things and generally productive. When you set your return goals, be mindful that this momentum will have stopped.

Starting is usually the hardest thing to do – especially if you procrastinate, or if what you're working on is challenging or boring…

A structured return means you can plan for these things, and feel confident that you can take your break and not worry about what it will be like once you return.

Prepare Your Environment

When you take the time to prepare your environment before you go, you're making it easier for future you – the one who's missing their all inclusive food and drinks – to get started again.

Prepare Before You Go!

With future you in mind, think about what you can do to create a calm, clear and stress free environment.

Take a look around your desk and your work space. Think about what you can do to improve this space to help with your focus and productivity.

Do you feel motivated in this space? Is your desk positioned near a window? Are there things that tend to distract you?

Declutter The Space

A declutter is one of those underrated things. You know that feeling you get after you've tackled that huge pile of things in the corner of your room? It's like a reseale – a relief that it's done. It usually makes me feel calm and also motivated to keep going.

When your work space is cluttered – whether that's physically or your electronic files and organisation, not only is time wasted searching for things, but it drains your energy.

A clear space helps foster mental clarity, it lessens feelings of stress and overwhelm. When things are organised you can relax and feel confident that you know where things are.

It's also much more likely to help with your creativity – with your mind free from clutter, you can focus more on what you're working on!

Coming back to a tidy and organised space will put much less pressure on your future self, making the ‘pick up and go' feeling helping you settle back into things quickly.

Create a Transition Plan

This doesn't have to be anything fancy – simply plan your work for your return before you go on your break. Be mindful of not filling it with tasks that you find daunting, and try to not push back the things you don't want to face this side of your break for when you get back!

A transition plan will help you feel in control post-break, removing as much of the resistance as possible.

Create a To-Do List

A to-do list is something that I love, but I know not everyone will want to use one. However, a return-to-work to-do-list will be your guide back to a focused and productive mindset.

You'll still be working from your original plans, and most people will have accounted for time off. Your to-do list is simply a way for you to organise and prioritise your tasks, and to help you rebuild momentum.

Creating the list pre-break means your head will still be in work-mode, but if you didn't do it before, then here's some simple steps:

• Revisit your monthly / quarterly plans and identify the key objectives for the next 2-4 weeks.
• Identify tasks that need attention after a break eg. emails / client contact / invoicing / any tech issues.
• Prioritise your list according to your bigger goals and those urgent tasks / actions needing your attention.
• Be mindful of the time and the energy it may take to complete each task.
• Plan the next week using time or task batching, plugging in the tasks from your list.

Having a to-do-list ready for your return helps remove time wasting because you'll have a clear plan on what you need to check or focus on, removing the risk of decision fatigue or feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.

Use Focused Work Sessions

As mentioned above, focused work sessions are a great way to catch up on different aspects of your work. It also helps to prevent wasting more time than necessary on things, which is easy to do when you're out of the swing of things.

If there are multi things that need your attention, breaking your day / week into focused sessions can help you efficiently focus on different things without feeling overwhelmed.

Using your to-do list, or your back to work plan, organise your schedule for the coming week based around shorter sessions. Split your day into 20-30 minute focus sessions, allowing for breaks at the end of each set.

This not only helps to keep your energy on point, but also helps you manage your time more effectively and get into the habit of moving through tasks as efficiently as possible.

Daily Habits

Reintroduce your daily habits and routines. You may choose to stagger these, so you build up over the course of a week, or for some, ripping off the plaster is the only way to get yourself going!

Find what works for you. If one approach doesn't work for you – switch it up!

Increase Rest Breaks

Temporarily increase your rest breaks. This is simple to do when you're working in batches or focus sessions.

If you know you weren't taking enough breaks beforehand, use this as the time to increase your daily schedule. Frequent breaks can help with productivity, especially in relation to your energy levels.

As the week progresses, increase your working time and slowly lower your rest time. Be mindful of not planning in enough rest, especially if pre-break you had a tendency to overwork. Let this reset be the start of a more balanced work / life balance!

Focus on Your Mindset

Gratitude & Reframing Thoughts

Tap into gratitude if you're feeling those post-holiday blues. It can help to remove the feeling of dread at the prospect of having to get back into things.

Reframe thoughts like “Ugh, I have to get this done, I cannot face it…” to “I'm thankful that I get to do this for my business! I don't need to get it all done, but anything I do, will help!”

Identify any negative or unhelpful emotions or resistance you have towards certain tasks. Pay attention to where your thoughts go when you consider each task.

Are there some things that make you not want to return? Are there some that make you feel excited and energised at the thought of?

Use these reflections to help you plan out your first week back. Make sure that you mix up some of your favourites with those you're not so keen on!

The Fresh Start Effect

Create a buzz around your return to things. Having worked in education for several years, I love a reset! September has always been my favourite work-related new year.

While the thought wasn't always appealing, I embrace the seasons, and find that by September, after the summer break, I am usually re-energised, excited, and able to build momentum quickly.

However, this isn't always the case, or as easy now that I work from home. When work is so accessible – on your phone / home office etc., every single day, it's very easy to work every single day, even if only for a few minutes.

My responder mindset is always on, even during my ‘breaks'. This is because I continue to have access to my work tools, and I tend to keep client work going throughout the summer.

To counter this, I make the last couple of weeks of August as chill as possible. I put very little pressure on myself, I make plans that take me away from my desk, and I ignore notifications a lot more.

This weekend is a bank holiday, then there's a week before the school year begins again. I'm working this weekend to finish this post, along with the next two drafts. Then, after some content batching for Pinterest – I'm taking the week off (off-off 😂).

The fresh start buzz is something I need, it helps with inspiration and that's been lacking a little recently because I'm tired.

I've already created my “How to refocus” plan, which has helped me organise and streamline things even more. Instead of feeling a bit uncertain about stepping away, I'm excited to switch off and looking forward to the September Fresh Start Buzz to hit!

Tools, Resources & Support

My favourite tools that supports my monthly planning and daily productivity are:

Sunsama – A brilliant task management that is perfect for busy and neurodiverse minds who easily find themselves overwhelmed and distracted. grab a free 2 week trial and free month!

Time Audit – Gain a clear understanding of exactly where your time and your energy is spent. Highly recommend doing this if you're planning to focus on increased productivity.

Tailwind – Fantastic scheduling tool. Great for Pinterest and repurposing across different social media platforms.

Canva Pro – Upgrade your content design with Canva Pro. Explore the enhanced features available in Pro. Grab your free trial here!

Task Batching Brain Dumps – Learn how to batch your tasks with these handy worksheets + Brain dumps

Eisenhower Matrix – Included in this pack of “Anti-Procrastination” worksheets, the Get it Done bundle includes tools for goal setting, prioritising & more!

Final Thoughts

Getting back on track and rebuilding momentum after a break can feel like a chore, even if you love your work! Learning how to refocus and regain your motivation for your work doesn't have to be difficult though.

Preparing well before your break can help the transition back to work feel calm and stress free. That doesn't mean working until you burn out before you finish up for your break, but having a good transition plan in place for when you return.

Finding what works for you is key. If a structured return plan doesn't feel right, look at how you can use your habits and routines to rebuild your momentum.

Do what you can to make the return to work as stress free as possible by creating a productive and calm environment.

The best thing is, once you've nailed how to refocus it will help you whenever you take a break, or go through those unmotivated stages. This ability to reset and move through overwhelm or creative block, will enable you to sustain your progress and stop procrastination from stopping you!

I'd love to know what you find helpful when returning to work after a break. What has helped you refocus and improve your productivity?

Exclusive Offer:

*If you find it difficult to refocus after a break, or a period of low motivation, I do offer some light-touch support options in my coaching.

This “How to Refocus” package will help you to either prepare for a break or return from a holiday, support you to identify any blocks to your progress, and develop a flexible planned based upon gentle productivity methods.

The package includes:

• 1-1 Coaching Call (60 Minutes).
• Planning & Reflection Tools & Templates.
• Follow up 1-1 Call (30 Minutes).
• Ongoing Voxer / Email Support for 4 Weeks.

Email “How to Refocus” or click below to learn more

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Meet Lynsey

Hey there! I'm Lynsey, a coach, counsellor, and mentor for low energy, introverted or low confident female coaches & small business owners. With over 5 years’ experience of running businesses, and over a decade as a tutor and trainer, I've learned the value of effective time management that energises you through working with your energy.

I've lived with chronic illness – ME/CFS since 2011 and since then I re-trained as a counsellor, and achieved a distinction for my MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice; all while running 4 businesses! I want that for you as well & it is possible with the right support and pathway to success.

Improving your mindset, finding acceptance and developing a solution-focused approach to achieving your goals is my passion. Blending mental health support where needed, as well as a supportive space and methods to manage your work more effectively.

If you'd like to know more about working with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on socials (links in the menu)

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