Challenges at the workplace – Chapter 1: Getting back to work after a long weekend

The true Corporate Bohemian takes weekend trips seriously. They are a breath of fresh air and a source of inspiration, as well as a great occasion to explore the world and practice the true bohemian lifestyle.

The typical long weekend includes a Friday or a Monday off, so that the weekend can be extended to nice three days that would then be spent, preferably, flying abroad to a close destination – the maximum flight length would be 3-4 hours.

That’s an easy one to do, just go to www.skyscanner.net  and browse the flights to everywhere, applying a few filters to help get the best option. Then use www.airbnb.com to get a good cheap flat with a friendly host who will gladly share with you the secret places where only locals go. You may choose to invite a friend or two, or in case you’re planning early on, you can easily extend the group to about 10 people. The more, the merrier! Just make sure you clearly state that you don’t take charge of people’s entertainment. You are not a clown, but a free spirit!

These trips are always great. Regardless of the possible flight delays, flat issues or any other troubles that you may bump into, these trips are always great! They are a fast-track route to stolen happy times and therefore you should switch off all corporate thoughts and emails, and simply enjoy. Do whatever you feel like doing, with one restriction only – no checking of emails.

However, the only challenge you will inevitably face is: getting back to work after your long weekend. That is hard to do because there will be a lot of emails and impatient people waiting for you to return. For some reason, a single day off seems like 2 weeks to colleagues that need your advice and guidance. Therefore, you need to adapt fast. Here are a few easy tricks to beat this challenge:

• Make sure in advance that you don’t have work meetings on the day of return. Of course, expect that someone may have scheduled something in your absence. Do what’s in your power & don’t bother thinking about the rest.
• Go to bed immediately after arrival. No distractions and no checking of the corporate email.
• Go to work on time, early enough to manage to enjoy your morning coffee routine before everyone attacks with their follow-up ‘welcome back’ emails.
• Focus and sort things out as they go, applying the LIFO method – ‘last in, first out’. It is psychologically easier to start scraping from the top, rather than digging up the bottom.
• Don’t skip lunch and go out either alone or with a fellow corporate bohemian. You need time to happily reflect on how great the weekend was, so you can either smile alone or tell your work friend all about it. This will recharge your batteries!
• Spend a quieter afternoon, if possible. If not, then don’t stress too much – at your earliest convenience, spend half an hour reading something inspiring online or doing something creative, i.e. I would usually write a crappy poem about the past weekend. Whatever works for you!
• Leave on time – this is serious. There is no point in staying in the office late when your body needs to relax and your mind needs to reflect on the great times you’ve had. Go home & relax or go out & have some follow-up fun. Just don’t stay working late!

Enjoy your long weekend escapes, have fun and work responsibly!