The vacations are over for most of the Dutch. Time for all of us to get back to work enthusiastically. Well, enthusiastic?
There is even such a thing these days as post-holiday stress and post-holiday burnout. But also for those who did fully unwind during their vacation, recharged and with the best intentions return, the reality is often different.
While many people often boost both their energy and also their motivation during the vacations, after returning home the energy often sinks quickly. There appears to be no time for the planned extra hours in the gym. Getting on with the job is difficult again. You still don't manage to bring more rest into your workday.
I call that the Tony Robbins syndrome. Tony Robbins is pre-eminently the world's biggest name in personal development. He manages to enthuse and literally mesmerize the often thousands of visitors to his seminars. Participants who have never seen each other before are within 5 minutes high fiving each other, hugging each other and sharing their greatest desires and challenges in front of the entire group.
In the process, Tony takes control of a few one-on-one (with thousands of bystanders around them again), after which the individual in question seems to rise above himself based on the newly gained insights. Business or private.
Despite the fact that we Dutch are fairly down-to-earth and parts of the somewhat über-American show pass us by, almost everyone returns to reality full of energy and the best of intentions.
And that's where things often go wrong. Completely sailing on the intoxication and inspiration of the past few days, you arrive back at work where you diligently and enthusiastically elaborate on your new experiences and insights. Unfortunately, your familiar surroundings are not enchanted. So you must be strong in your resolve to stick to your new intentions. Within a few days, therefore, for many people these have completely evaporated again.
Unfortunately, the Tony Robbins syndrome actually applies to a lot of trainings, workshops and seminars. During the program, everyone is on-board, full of energy and motivation to do things differently. But as soon as you are back in the reality of everyday life, with your colleagues who did not attend the training, all good intentions evaporate.
Just like good intentions, cuts 83 percent of our plans within no time. Therefore, try not to change too many things at once and consider each change as a project in itself. How and when will you build the new insights into your schedule? Do you want to increase your chances? Then involve your environment as well.
So too after that wonderful vacation. Prevent your new energy, as well as that of your colleagues, from disappearing like snow in the vacation sun. That all the start-up panic kills motivation. Make sure you turn those positive intentions into joint resolutions. Take the time to make new plans in your team, tighten the dot on the horizon and decide how and when to celebrate the results.
The last, for many businesses most important, quarter of the year is upon us. A good start is half the battle.
