Reboot

After a break, it is often difficult to immediately get back into the usual rhythm. Many of us feel the urge to catch up on everything and go full speed ahead after a pause. However, this quickly leads to feeling overwhelmed. After the summer break, I made a conscious decision to approach the restart step by step. Instead of tackling everything at once, I set clear priorities.

Whether in our professional or personal lives, the restart is often the key moment for making real progress. A break provides the opportunity to reflect, but the real benefit comes afterward: how we deal with the newfound clarity and what steps we take next. In our personal lives, this often means reshaping the dynamics of everyday life. After a pause, it becomes easier to address things that are usually lost in the stress. It might be about creating more space for conversations or spending quality time with family, rather than immediately falling back into old habits. A conscious restart allows us to make the most of our relationships and daily routines with a fresh perspective.

In a professional context, a structured restart plays a key role in maintaining long-term productivity. One of the best methods to smoothly transition back after a break is called “Time Blocking.” This technique involves dividing your day into time blocks, with each task assigned a specific time period. According to a study from Stanford University, a structured approach like Time Blocking can significantly boost productivity and increase efficiency by up to 25%. After the summer break, I began using this method more frequently to organize my work more clearly. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, I focus on just one task per time block. This reduces stress and helps me accomplish more in a shorter period of time.

Another proven approach that helped me with the restart is setting small goals. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that small, achievable goals help maintain motivation and enhance the sense of control. After a longer break, it’s crucial to give yourself small wins to ease back into your routine. If you take on too much at the beginning, you risk falling back into the same patterns of stress and overwhelm. By setting smaller goals, I was able to gradually get back to my full work capacity, step by step.

It’s also important to regularly make time for self-reflection after a break. Often, after a restart, we tend to fall back into the daily grind and forget to reflect on the progress we’ve made. Weekly check-ins with yourself can be a helpful way to ensure you’re still on the right path. A study from the Journal of Business and Psychology has shown that regular self-reflection not only boosts productivity but also improves personal well-being. This self-reflection has helped me not only after the summer break but also throughout my workdays to maintain balance.

To wrap up, here are Matze’s practical tips: A restart should always be gradual. Set small, achievable goals to avoid falling back into old habits. Take the energy from the break and focus on what you truly want to achieve. There’s no room for pressure or haste during this phase. It’s essential to give yourself time after the break to approach the restart in a structured way. This will help you secure long-term success and stay focused on what really matters….stay tuned…

Quellen:

Markman, A. B. (2017). The importance of time blocking for productivity. Stanford University.

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey. American Psychological Association.

Diestel, S., & Schmidt, K.-H. (2011). The Role of Self-Control Demands in Job Strain Models. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(2), 169-181.