Labor Day is here, meaning many of us in America are getting a shortened work week. Here are some tips for making the most of your first day back after a long weekend.
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Get back into the swing of things once the holiday's over.
(Zoom Team/Shutterstock)- Many people across the US are about to receive some extra time off thanks to Labor Day.
- Business Insider spoke with several productivity and work experts to get tips on how to bounce back from a long weekend.
- They recommended hitting the ground running on your first day back.
An extra day off makes snapping out of weekend mode that much harder. But it's an eventuality you should be prepared for. After all, some people around the US will be receiving an extra day off for Labor Day.
There's a lot to be said about how you should — or shouldn't — spend long weekends. But it's equally important to plan out the days that follow a long weekend.
When you're coming back from some time off and you have a shorter week to get everything done, it usually helps to hit the ground running.
With that in mind, here are six things that successful people do first when they return from long weekend:
They get to work early
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They get to work early
(Phalinn Ooi/flickr)
When it comes to some holidays, almost everyone has time off. So you won't be falling behind by showing up to work at your usual time.
But coming in early is a good idea if you want to be as productive as possible after a holiday weekend.
"That will mitigate the workload avalanche and give you a head start, sans distraction," Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," told Business Insider.
They scrutinize their to-do lists
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They scrutinize their to-do lists
(Jacquelyn Smith/Business Insider)
Productive people know that long, unwieldy to-do lists are essentially useless. There's no better time to start cutting items from your list than the day you get back from long weekend.
"Now that you've spent a good bit away from your desk, you have tangible proof that those tasks you're always putting off aren't holding up your ceiling," freelance reporter Kevin Purdy writes in Fast Company.
They double-check their schedules
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They double-check their schedules
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Don't forget to double-check your schedule. Remember, you'll likely be dealing with a shortened work week. Don't try to cram too many items onto your weekly schedule, or you might wind up burning yourself out.
They check in with people
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They check in with people
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If you're back from a national holiday, odds are most of your coworkers and clients will be in the same boat as you.
Still, it's not a bad idea to check in.
"Take the time to connect with one or two clients to let them know they're top of mind with you and that you're back if they need anything," Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage," told Business Insider. "It's a simple customer service touch point that can make a big impression."
What's more, if the long weekend ate up a Monday — a popular day for meetings — schedule in some time for your team and direct reports to meet up, even if it's just for a few minutes. You want to make sure everyone's on the same page now that you're all back in the office.
They organize their inbox
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They organize their inbox
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Beware of spending too much time responding to the emails you missed over the weekend.
"It's easy to get sucked into the vortex of responding to every email without considering whether it's the best use of your time on the first day back," Kerr said. "Don't confuse email activity with productive work, so be strategic and only respond to emails that are time sensitive."
They focus on work
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They focus on work
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It's important to be able to shut off your "work brain" over long weekends. You want to enjoy your time off, after all.
It's equally important to snap back into a work-oriented mindset when you return to the office. Successful people are able to make the switch and avoid any unproductive dillydallying after a long weekend.
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