Try mono-tasking

“When returning from a holiday, tasks can pile up and you may have many plates to spin,” says Sally Evans, director of operations at Making Moves. But multi-tasking, she notes, can be counterintuitive. “While it might seem productive to work on two tasks at once, you won’t be able to give either of the tasks your full concentration, so they’ll take longer to complete and you’ll likely find them more difficult,” she says.

Instead, she advocates trying the opposite approach: mono-tasking. “What’s more productive is giving one task your full attention at any given time, saving other tasks for when you’re finished,” she recommends. “If you’re working on two or more big projects at once, avoid thinking or talking about one project while you’re working on another, to help you maintain focus and efficiency.”

Switch up your work playlist

If your attention is seriously straying after your return, you might want to consider swapping your usual office playlist for something that’s deliberately designed to get you into that work headspace. “Try listening to binaural beats that are specifically curated to help you get into a state of focus,” says Jasmine Eskenzi, founder of wellbeing and productivity app The Zensory. “For productivity and alertness, try binaural beats featuring beta waves (13–32hz). These should be listened to for (ideally) 25 minutes while working, using headphones for maximum effect.” That 25-minute slot, she adds, is the ideal time to work according to productivity methods such as the pomodoro method. You might find white or brown noise helps you get in the zone too.

Start looking ahead

Once you’re starting to feel more settled, it can help to set some goals for the weeks and months ahead to help you truly get back into work mode. “Take a moment to step back and decide on your aims and priorities for the coming months,” suggests Davies. “This is a great time to establish what you want to achieve in the short and long term, and gives you and your manager clarity on areas of focus. It could be leading on a project, getting involved in an internal initiative or learning a new skill.”

Struggling to focus at work after your holiday? Here are 10 ways to get back in the zone