Back to school blues? Tips for an uplifting return to work

Fi Coley offered this fabulous range of tips, all based on positive psychology, for an uplifting return to work. Originally posted as a thread on BlueSky, Fi kindly agreed to let us reproduce it here.

Get prepped

Might be obvious, but you’ll feel calmer if you have everything ready. Pack your bag the night before. Prep your lunch. Plan your outfit. In fact, plan an outfit in which you feel super comfortable and most like yourself. It’ll boost your confidence! I have a free ‘Positivity planner‘ that you can download and use.

Connect

Check in with a work colleague and make plans to catch up on the first day. Or if you’re new and don’t know anyone yet, try to focus on identifying your new work BFF, or your go-to person for Qs. And connect with your current friends and existing support network.

Treat yourself

Even on a budget, you can indulge in tiny treats. Perhaps a fancy snack or a posh coffee? Or maybe you’re a stationery fiend like me – treat yourself to a new pencil case or some glittery highlighters!

Practice gratitude

Make a list of all the things in your life that you are grateful for. Or start with just #ThreeGoodThings It’s surprisingly uplifting.

Choose hope and optimism

What top three things are you looking forward to this year? That could be work-related things and/or holidays or special family moments.

Make plans

Want more things to look forward to? Plant yourself some treats in the diary, even several months ahead – holidays, a day out, a date night, or visiting friends and family.

Have a ‘worrydump’

If you’re feeling anxious or ruminating about things, give yourself 10-15mins to write down everything on your mind. Keep a notebook by the bed to contain any midnight worries.

‘Oh my darling, but what if you fly?’

As Erin Hanson’s poem answered the question, ‘What if I fall?’ Things may go better than expected. Remember that your worried thoughts are not actually facts. What if things went brilliantly?

Try to relax

Do whatever works for you: a hot bath, going for a walk, chatting/laughing with friends, a face mask, practice your hobbies, or try yoga and meditation.

Focus on resting…

…instead of pressuring yourself to sleep. There’s nothing worse than lying wide awake knowing you need to sleep well. I’m a massive fan of Jason Stephenson when I can’t sleep. One of my faves is a guided spoken visualisation – ‘Get back to sleep releasing midnight anxiety‘

Be kind to yourself

Notice if you are putting unnecessary pressure on yourself, or setting unrealistically high expectations. Just focus on doing the bits you enjoy. In reality, maybe you don’t need to achieve anything or impress anyone

These are my suggestions for an uplifting start to the new academic year and I’d love to hear what works for you. What are your tips for beating the back to work blues? Comment below.

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