Get creative about switching back to work mode

I spent the last two weeks on vacation in Central Oregon, hiking and biking in the woods, reading and having quality family time. While on vacation, my days unfolded at a leisurely pace, and I had plenty of time to rest and regroup. Now I am having a bit of trouble switching back to my work mode. Instead of strong-arming myself into my former work routine and picking up all the responsibilities I was able to put down, I decided to approach my return to my work routine a bit more creatively. I am inviting you to do something similar, if you are having trouble switching back to your work mode.

First thing I did was clean my office, throwing away everything I didn’t need and organizing my workspace. It makes a huge difference for my mental state to arrive at a clean, organized, and welcoming space every morning.

Second, I decided to do a little creative project to help myself visualize what I want to work on in the near future. It helps to be intentional about what we bring back into our work lives and only choose things that are truly important. For some time, I’ve been toying with the idea of making my own custom pin board to display inspiring images and future projects that make me feel excited. I could never find time in the past, so yesterday I decided that the time was now I got the supplies from my local home improvement store and followed the instructions on this blog.

It took me about two hours from start to finish and I am quite pleased with the result.

Third, I printed images that represent my future projects and pinned them on my new board. I dedicated one board to Sequence Wiz with its emphasis on content for yoga teachers and yoga therapists and another board to Happy U with its emphasis on yoga practices and series. Working on this pin board really helped me define my vision. A picture is truly worth a thousand words, particularly when you can see all your plans and your entire timeline at a glance. Seeing it all presented visually makes it feel less intimidating and more inspiring. I am hoping to continue adding to my boards as time goes by and my projects evolve.

This little project helped me overcome my resistance and transition back to my work schedule painlessly and creatively. How do you plan to transition back to your work life? Are you excited to go back or do you feel hesitant? Is there a creative way to encourage yourself to dive back in a way that inspires you? Please share your thoughts below!