Do you go back to work after a holiday and need a rest?

Has your spirit ever sagged at that statement? You have had two weeks leave, but feel rested? Ha!

“Welcome back; now that you are rested, we can get down to some hard work.”   

Returning to work exhausted after a break can be caused by several reasons:

• You are in a season of life, where being on holiday means you just look after your kids or someone you care for in a different location. This is more stressful and expensive than being at home because you have to work harder at keeping them entertained.
• You are in a season of life where holiday means party, party, party - your body didn’t rest.
• You spent your time away from work doing mundane, day to day activities and didn’t do anything to energise you.
• You spent your annual leave doing a massive project which caused stress.

On return to work, the thought of taking up where you left off on already depleted energy levels can leave you feeling cross, angry or depressed. So what do you need to do to stay on top?

Quick fix

Both physical and mental wellbeing is often linked to one thing - getting enough sleep.

What do you need to do to improve the amount or quality of your sleep on a regular basis?

Longer term

To increase energy levels it requires taking a birds eye view. Sometimes you can tinker around the edges, other times it requires drastic change. If unsure, speak to an accredited coach who can work with you to find out what you need to do to gain more energy.

Rick Warren talks about energy levels being like water in a bucket. When your bucket is full and you are energised, you are creative, perform well and feel happy. When your bucket is empty you are tired, irritable and prone to making mistakes.

No-one else will fill your bucket for you - it is your responsibility to fill it and maintain the energy levels needed. No matter what season of life you are in, there will always be activities, people or scenarios that either energise or drain you. So ask yourself:

1. How full is your bucket at the moment?

2. What fills your bucket, i.e what energises you?

3. What drains you?

4. What do you need to start doing or stop doing to ensure your bucket stays full?

Don’t spend your life feeling tired and irritable. Take action to make sure you have the energy levels you need.