The summer is winding down, and we’re welcoming in the fall season. Heading back to work after summer vacation, long weekends, and paid time off can be a bit of a struggle. The shift from beach days, cookouts, and cozy mornings in bed to early morning alarm clocks, meetings, and an inbox full of emails can make anyone drag their feet. We know this phenomenon as the “back-to-work blues.”
And it’s not uncommon. According to a Zapier survey, 87% of workers admit that there are things they dread about returning to work after enjoying time off. When citing some of the most unpleasant tasks, workers mentioned getting back into a routine, catching up on administrative items, and feeling inundated with busy work.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s some good news: with the right workplace environment, little shifts in your routine, and a little help from the right refreshments, the back-to-work blues don’t have to stick around.
Let’s dive into why the back-to-work blues happen and how you can combat them and bounce back faster.
Why Do the Back-to-Work Blues Happen?
Post-vacation slumps are real. Studies show that many employees experience a dip in motivation, energy, and even focus when returning to work after time off. People also call this occurrence “reentry shock” or “post-time-off burnout.” Psychologists explain this is partly due to a shift from autonomy in how you spend your free time to structure when adhering to the workday schedule.
On top of that, going from flexible routines to structured days can feel overwhelming, especially when inboxes are full and projects need immediate attention. Workplaces can take proactive steps to ease the transition.
What Employees Can Do for Themselves
It’s normal to feel the back-to-work blues. Here are some helpful tips employees can try to ease the transition from vacation back to work.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Before returning to work, plan your first week, or at least your first day, back. Ensuring there isn’t much room for surprises will give you the confidence you need to get back into the swing of things. Give yourself time to catch up on any work you’ve missed, and try to minimize the amount of time you spend in morning meetings. Try time-blocking your tasks in your calendar to help you stay on-task. Be sure to get to bed early so you have the energy you need to get you through that first workday back.
Form New Work Habits
You may have been out of the office for a while, and getting back into your routine can be difficult. That’s why it’s a great time to create new workplace habits.
Break up the day by taking regular breaks in between tasks. Several studies show that taking regular breaks at work can reduce stress and increase productivity. Think about how you can make the most out of your breaks by spending some time outside or going for a brief walk.
It’s also good to make a habit out of minimizing distractions. Try to reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone, especially. You can block distracting apps or turn off your notifications when you need to focus. If you need to bring out the big guns, leave your phone in another room or a desk drawer.
Connect with Coworkers
When you’re feeling down, it’s easy to isolate yourself, but that can often make matters worse. Connecting with the people around you is a great way to boost your mood. Try to take time away from your desk during coffee breaks to socialize with your colleagues. It’s a great time to exchange vacation stories and see what everyone’s been up to while you’ve been away.
Coffee Can Help
Many of us can’t start our days without a morning cup of coffee. When we’re feeling down, coffee can be especially helpful for improving our moods and getting us into gear. Here are some ways coffee can assist in getting you out of a back to work blues funk.
Coffee Improves Mood
Coffee has been scientifically proven to increase wellbeing and brighten your mood.
The caffeine in coffee blocks the receptors in your body that make you feel tired. Caffeine releases chemicals like noradrenaline and dopamine that improve your mood and make you feel happier.
In low doses, caffeine can even help with depression. In a 2011 Harvard study, women who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had a 20% lower risk of suffering from depression.
Coffee Boosts Productivity
Many workers rely on caffeine to keep them going throughout the day. In fact, four out of five adults consume caffeine daily. The caffeine content in coffee can give you the energy and brain power you need to be more productive at work. Drinking coffee can help you feel more focused and improve your overall attention, reasoning, and reaction.
It improves productivity by keeping employees alert. Caffeine blocks adenosine in the brain, preventing the body from becoming sleepy. The right amount of coffee can also increase mental awareness, allowing you to learn and retain more details in important meetings. It can also keep you more focused and motivated while working through projects.
Recent studies have revealed that consuming caffeine enhances memory performance, making memories clearer and easier to recall. After consuming caffeine, people are more likely to remember important details. This can be especially useful for employees who need to retain important company information like business updates, renewed company goals, and current company achievements.
Coffee Helps You Connect
Who doesn’t love a good coffee break? Whether you need a cup of joe or just an excuse to step away from your desk, coffee offers a great reason to gather with coworkers.
Regular coffee breaks are a great opportunity to interact with your colleagues and improve your relationships with them. In turn, this creates a happier work environment where staff can chat freely and feel comfortable around their peers.
Give Tea a Try
Tea Improves Your Mood
Tea also offers mood-boosting benefits. Drinking tea can have calming, soothing effects. Stress-related hormones like cortisol can be counteracted with tea.
You can also use tea as a way to boost your immune system after all your summer traveling. The powerful antioxidants in tea can help lower blood pressure and fight off free radicals, allowing you to stay healthy.
Like Coffee, Tea Boosts Your Energy
Tea may have less caffeine than coffee, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any. A standard cup of black tea contains about 48 milligrams of caffeine, and a standard cup of green tea contains about 28 milligrams of caffeine. Tea contains an amino acid known as L-theanine that provides a gentler lift than coffee does. This amino acid promotes a state of “calm alertness,” giving you a more balanced and sustained energy boost.
Tea Boosts Productivity
Most tea blends provide a sustained focus and energy. Due to the combination of caffeine and L-theanine, it can improve focus, concentration, and memory. It also improves cognitive function, improving alertness, attention, problem-solving skills, and flexible thinking.
Black tea, green tea, and matcha are all tea blends that contain caffeine, helping your energy and focus while also boosting your mood.
What Employers Can Do for Employees
Employees can do all the planning and rearranging in the world, but employers can also do things to make associate’s transitions easier. Here are some ways you can make your workplace the best it can be and help employees shift back into their work schedules.
Start with Coffee
There’s no warmer welcome than the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. When you provide your employees with high-quality coffee options, you can help ease the adjustment from PTO to in-office work.
Coffee is a part of so many people’s morning routines. Coming back to work feels that little bit better when there’s the comfort of a familiar morning ritual. Consider elevating your coffee selection. Offer seasonal flavors, like pumpkin spice in the fall and peppermint mochas in the winter. These small touches can make employees feel valued and give them something to look forward to each morning.
For the non-coffee drinkers, a vibrant tea selection and great ready-to-drink beverages can also provide your workers with comfort and energy.
Foster Breaktime Connections
Sometimes it takes more than a good cup of coffee or tea to beat the back to work blues. People need the moments food creates. Designing spaces where employees can gather for coffee breaks encourages connection.
Coffee bars invite employees to pause, chat, and reset. These small breaks have the power to improve morale and spark creativity and collaboration.
Listen to Employee Feedback
One of the best ways to engage employees is to ask what they want. Simple surveys or suggestion boxes about coffee and tea preferences can go a long way in making people feel heard.
When associates see their favorite coffee beans or the tea they requested in the breakroom, they feel valued. These small gestures can make the back-to-work period a lot brighter.
Promote Wellness
Beating the back-to-work blues isn’t just about what happens at the desk. It’s about a holistic workplace culture. Encouraging wellness practices like walking meetings, stretch breaks, or even quick meditation sessions can complement the beverages you provide.
Offerings like these show that the company cares for every aspect of well-being.
Celebrate the Small Wins
Finally, remember that getting back into the groove takes time. Workplaces can help by celebrating small wins, whether that’s making it through a busy week or finishing a big project.
Coffee bars and pop-up coffee tastings can feel like rewards and reminders that hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. These gestures turn the office into a place employees want to be and not just somewhere they have to be.
The back-to-work blues are real, but they don’t have to define the transition from vacation to work. With the right mix of great coffee and tea, workplaces can transform the return into something positive and even exciting.
At Tradecraft, we believe coffee and tea fuel the day, but also fuel people. When employees feel refreshed, supported, and cared for, they’re happier, more productive, more engaged, and better connected.
So the next time the blues roll around, remember: the solution might just be as simple as sharing a good cup of coffee or tea with a coworker.
Get brewing with Tradecraft today and get all the right coffee and tea options for your workplace to beat the back to work blues.
