8 Tips to Get Back to Work Effectively After a Break

Have you been on leave recently or were you just taking a break and tending to some business that has needed your attention? Is it now time to get back to work after a break? Have you been away from work so long that you are not sure can function like you once did? It happens to everyone, whether it was child-rearing, going back to school, re-evaluating your career choice, unemployment, or whatever it was that made you take a lengthy break.

The idea of re-entering the working world can be quite intimidating. Several people have run into challenges when it comes to bagging a new job and breaking the long cycle of being away from the office, for example. When your long month of vacationing across the southern coast has come to an end, do you need tips and tricks to get back to work after holiday? If yes, you are in the right place and effective ways to get you back to work after a career break await you.

What is a Career Break?

A career break is described as a period of consented absence from work that can last for several years. A lot of employees use the time to travel, to pursue interests, to study, etc. Employers can’t benefit from the experience and skills gained while the employee was away.  

There are three types of career breaks that persons normally take:

• Voluntary breaks – a conscious decision
• Involuntary breaks – this could be due to being fired, made redundant, or other circumstances
• Maternity leaves – while this is not standard, many highly educated and qualified women do not return after leaving to have a child

Common Challenges When Re-entering the Workforce and Going Back to Work Guidelines

Navigating the constantly changing job market is no walk in the park, as it can be very difficult especially after there was a pause. Nevertheless, knowing some of the challenges you may face can help you prepare for success. These challenges can include:

Changing Job Market

Like college graduates who have a hard time obtaining data entry positions, you can have one when re-entering the workforce after a long break. The job market is always changing rapidly over a short time, making skills out of date and irrelevant. Many persons being forced out of retirement may struggle to relearn skills needed for the current demands in their fields.

Self-Doubt

Self-doubt is a real plague for you to get back to work after a break that faces a lot of job seekers, particularly those who have been out and unemployed for extensive periods. Being absent from the labor force for some time may have you doubting your skills and abilities, and even questioning if you have what it takes to truly return to the force. These feelings can strengthen over time especially after being rejected.

Age Discrimination

New skill requirements and development are not the only challenges. While it is illegal, age discrimination still exists, and your age can affect the job-hunting process. While everyone ages, some employers, unfortunately, do not share and have not subscribed to this notion.

Tips to Effectively Get Back to Work after a Long Break

Whether you are going back to work after a holiday or going back to work after time off or extended leave, these work productive tips are golden in getting you back into the swing of things in no time.

Brush up on Your Skills

So much can happen over a few years, so it is best to keep abreast of new developments in your field and to keep your skills relevant, so you do not fall behind when going back to work after holiday. Take a few courses or read up on new research by browsing the internet and staying up to date with the latest trends. You can even follow up with textbooks, theories, and other materials.

Avoid Chatty Colleagues

While you may miss your co-workers and rather catch up on lost time using your ergonomic office furniture, that should not be your focus. To ensure your attention is in the right areas and around the right conversations, schedule time to talk to your co-workers in your lunchtime perhaps, or after work.

Start Early or End Late

By committing to arriving early and staying late and ending your workday late on your first few days, you can get a jumpstart on the week. This can help to get you caught up and get back to the normal productivity level faster. It also can help with getting back to work more efficiently. 

Commit to Simpler Tasks

Avoid taking on huge products and responsibilities immediately after returning to work. Gently ease yourself in by committing to easier and shorter tasks and projects at first. As you observe your to-do list getting shorter, you can feel more accomplished. Once you feel the groove and have mastered short projects, you can focus on larger ones.

Take It Easy with Yourself and Plan Accordingly

Whatever kind of expectations you may have for yourself upon returning to work, be flexible. There is no standard time for you to get back in, and it can happen at whichever pace. So, being gentle with yourself is the best strategy for you to get back to work after a break. Set realistic expectations, which can help in avoiding any feelings of failure you may experience after returning. You spent six months away from the office, so there is no way you can expect maximum productivity on your first week back.

Analyze What Kind of Job You Want

After taking a career break you should ask yourself if you want to go back to where you were or do something else. Consider your availability, preference in work hours, salary demands and needs, and the purpose/passion for the job.

Commit to Smaller Bursts of Time

Instead of dedicating an hour or two to taking effective breaktime, schedule small portions of time such as 10, 20, or 30 minutes for short breaks even if it is to stand and stretch. This can help harvest more energy that is needed for the day.

Try Confirming Immovable and Immediate Tasks and Duties

To make commitments to shorter, simpler tasks and duties you must understand the ones that are upcoming and have fixed deadlines. Also, try to trim the things that are immediate into smaller tasks.

Conclusion

Returning to the workforce after a long absence can be disheartening, but remember it is not impossible. You can successfully re-enter if you keep your skills relevant, adhere to tips, believe in yourself, and strategize, and even check out a work from home guide if applicable.