You did it. You unplugged, took the trip, and relaxed to your heart's content. Maybe you explored a new city, hit the beach, or simply enjoyed a change of scenery with zero emails or work calls.
Then...the dream ends and reality hits. The out-of-office message you scheduled expires. The alarm clock goes off. The vacation vibes vanish in a blink and you're suddenly sitting in your office chair staring at an overflowing inbox. Instant overwhelm. But have no fear: you are not alone. Many workers struggle with the transition between vacation and work, especially after a long time away from their desk.
Luckily, returning to work doesn't have to feel like a crisis. With a little planning and the right mindset, you can get back to it without the panic and without undoing all of the benefits your vacation provided.
Let's find out how in the final installment of "Lawyers Need Vacations Too!" Read on!
Schedule a buffer day. One of the biggest reentry mistakes lawyers make happens before the vacation even begins. If you're not careful, your vacation could end with you facing down one of your most stressful days of the year. Leave a day to rest and unpack between vacation and heading back to work. If you're fighting jet lag, a couple days might be even better. Your exhausted future self will thank your clever past self for planning that buffer day in advance.
Be sure to leave yourself some breathing room on your first day back in the office, too. Avoid scheduling major meetings, hearings, or significant deadlines. Giving yourself a buffer both at home and in the office allows time to take it easy, review emails, prioritize tasks, and regain your bearings before jumping into high-stakes work.
The inbox is not your enemy. It's typically the first app we open in the morning, and definitely the first place we head after a well-deserved break. And that's our very first mistake. Going face-to-face with a bloated inbox when you get back from vacation can leave you immediately feeling overwhelmed and extremely behind. Most likely, you're tempted to head to the oldest email and start working your way forward. In many cases, this is the least efficient approach.
Instead, look for what requires immediate attention, starting with the most recent. Keep in mind that not every email requires action. Some issues might've already been resolved by helpful colleagues. Other emails might be informational or even unwanted spam. So, there's no reason to let the number of unread emails intimidate you. Prioritize what needs your attention the most and don't treat your inbox like a courtroom docket that must be cleared immediately. You'll get there in time.
Prioritize, don't panic. When you're a problem solver by nature, it might be tempting to dive headfirst into the mountain of work that awaits you. But if you want to strategize, take a moment to pause and prioritize what's on your to-do list. Not every task deserves the same level of attention. Once you've identified what's waiting for you, separate items into categories. What needs action today? What can wait until tomorrow? What can be delegated? Taking a few minutes to assess the situation can save you hours of stress later. If you'd like to take preparation a step further, you can create a priority list before you even go on vacation.
Vacation often provides valuable perspective and one of the most useful lessons is realizing that not everything is as urgent as it initially appears.
Avoid vacation amnesia. Once you return to work, that vacation might start to feel more and more like a distant dream. You got outside and walked more. You spent less time staring at screens. You relaxed, ate delicious food, and spent more time with your family or friends. Eventually, it had to end, but that doesn't mean some of the habits that made it enjoyable have to.
One of the biggest mistakes people make after vacation is immediately returning to every unhealthy habit they left behind. Goodbye lunch break, hello working twelve hours straight fueled by nothing but caffeine and spite. Don't let vacation amnesia steal away the memories of that healthy work-life balance! Make an effort to extend the benefits you experienced on vacation long after you've unpacked your suitcase.
Remember: Reentry is temporary. The first day back is overwhelming. The second day, you're still playing catch up. By the end of the week, you've found your rhythm again.
The feeling of being behind is often far worse than the reality. It's important not to mistake temporary discomfort for permanent chaos. Give yourself permission to ease back into your routine rather than expecting peak performance from the moment you walk through the door. In time, your backlog will shrink. The emails will get answered. The urgent issues will be addressed. Stressing about it won't make it happen any faster, so why stress at all?
The vacation doesn't have to end. The purpose of taking time away was to recharge, gain perspective, and return with renewed energy. That process doesn't stop the moment you walk back into the office. In many ways, the real value of a vacation reveals itself afterward in improved focus, better decision-making, and a healthier relationship with work. That feeling sticks around much longer than tan lines.
Bonus tip: Bring a little vacation joy to your office in the form of a souvenir or a picture of your trip. This will not only bring back pleasant memories, but also serve as a reminder to keep the good vibes going.
In conclusion, do not dread the reentry. Getting back to work is simply part of the journey, and with the right strategy, you'll come back rested and ready for what's next.
We hope you enjoyed our summer series "Lawyers Need Vacations Too!" We wish you safe travels and a relaxing rest of your summer. And if you've got August compliance around the corner, PBI is ready to help you score credits with a stellar lineup of live webcasts!
