Into the Groove … Mind speak for the working week
There’s nothing quite like holidaying Kiwi style and come December most of us are hanging out for that change in pace and routine. However, heading back into work mode or a new school term, can conjure feelings of dread and anxiety.
So, how do we spring back into action minus a bout of the blues? We sleep longer, have fun and connect more!
Channel your natural rhythm
When holidaying we slumber longer, act and eat differently, and our social clock aligns itself closer to that of our biological clock – sleep in longer, stay up later. As leading researcher of chronobiology, Tim Roenneberg reveals in his paper ‘Social Jetlag: misalignment of biological and social time’ published by the US National Library of Medicine, many of us are out of tune with our chronotypes and natural circadian. What this means for work? Waking up to a 7am alarm – or earlier – means we’re destined to feel tired and sluggish with slower reaction times. Whilst beginning the work day later may not be an option, getting outside more can provide a boost in sunlight that can steer us towards an earlier sleep time.
Keep holidaying
Kickstarting work mode doesn’t mean saying goodbye to all things fun – in fact fun should top the list all year round, says life coach and business mentor, Dawn Kiddie.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people can’t see beyond the nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday mindset when on the working wheel,” she says. “But we shouldn’t railroad ourselves into thinking this way – we need to stop making excuses.”
Putting greater emphasis on making next year’s holiday plans or ‘treat’ occasions well in advance of the Christmas break, puts a positive spin on heading back to work in the New Year.
“In my opinion we put too much emphasis on getting that one decent Christmas break – we ‘need’ it. When what we actually ‘need’ we should be getting throughout the rest of the year too,” she explains. “We need to learn to go our own ways – plan a mid-week holiday in May, plan the camping trip for March instead of January – do for you.”
Connect outwardly
Connecting with others in and outside the work space also keeps us positively moving forward, recommends the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
As one of its five steps to wellbeing – connect, give, take notice, keep learning and be active – connecting with people is not only intrinsic to our daily thought patterning and feelings, but also our physical health. A meta study of 148 studies (with over 300,000 participants) showed that the individuals with greater social relationships had a 50% increased likelihood of survival.