Can we please acknowledge the pressure of returning to work?

Can we please acknowledge the pressure of returning to work?

If you were fortunate enough to have some time off from work during the holidays, I hope you're not just trying to power through your inbox today. I hope you're not muscling through meetings. I hope you're not demanding the most of yourself or acting as if you need to be tough right now.

I've been there, done that pressuring myself. I literally passed out from overwork. ?

If being back at work seems challenging today or this week, I hope you acknowledge that to yourself. Not that you need to crawl back into your pajamas and hide under the covers (I do understand that temptation, promise).?

Can we please allow transition-back-to-work time??

In a super short time, you've shifted your rhythm, your focus, your interactions.

The rhythm of chatting with family and friends, perhaps playing board games, cooking and eating together, or even just spending quiet time alone is very different than the tempo of speaking up in meetings, responding to emails, making business decisions.?

Instead of being able to focus on holiday fun or memories or who you are (or are not) hanging out with -- if you're back to work you're likely focused on your clients, your coworkers, that market analysis you need to do, that message you need to write.

Your interactions likely had a very different tone over the holidays. Maybe you were more playful, more somber, more curious. And now you're interacting with your manager and just turned on a dose of your professionalism, for good or for bad.?

Please, take a moment and acknowledge that things are different as you go back to work. Whether that's your rhythm, your focus, your interactions, your commute, your screen time, or something else -- things are different.?

What if you give yourself a pat on the back for getting back in the work swing??

Or gave yourself a nod of encouragement that you are taking things a little slowly, because that's what feels good?

Or maybe you even give yourself a hug and say aloud or in your head, "I know, it's weird to be back at work -- and you can handle it?"

While I'm a huge proponent for being "powerful under pressure," that starts with acknowledging when you feel under pressure.?

If your attitude doesn't beam today like the woman striding confidently with a coffee in her hand like the image in today's post -- that's OK.?

My commitment is to supporting you in bringing out your best, especially when circumstances are tough at work.

So, let's acknowledge that it takes some time to come back into the rhythm of work.?

And if this is the year for you or your team to be powerful under pressure, I'd love to be the one to support you in making that happen. I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with me to see if we're a fit for coaching, a speaking engagement, a workshop, or something else.?

Welcome back to work -- at the pace that's right for you.

May your 2023 be a very happy, healthy, and meaningful.?

#leadership #returntowork #power #pressure #powerfulunderpressure