2 Ways to Get Back in the Zone After Holidays

Woman dozing on couch while watching TV.

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Feeling logy after lounging on sofas, eating all those holiday carbs, binge-watching old movies, and streaming series? Procrastinating getting back into your work zone? How do you get back that state of flow? How do you go from 0 to 60 mph in a day?

The answer is you can’t, nor should you try to, jumpstart your work energy so quickly. This is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. The trick to getting into a state of flow is to figure out where you are on the continuum of the stress response from 0 to 100 mph and then do those things that will get you back to the stress response’s most productive middle. I call it the middle of your stress-performance rainbow.

While on holiday, if you were lazing about on the couch, watching old movies, reading a book, feeling relaxed and half asleep much of the time, your stress response was at or close to 0 mph. That was a good thing, as we all need time to recharge, replenish those stress hormones, and store up energy for the challenges ahead.

But it’s pretty hard to go from total relaxation to full-on productivity the day after a holiday when you return to work. So, try baby steps. Think of the things that will energize you in small portions. Take a walk, and then gradually increase your exercise level. Maybe run, swim, or get on the treadmill. Gradually, incrementally increasing exercise will prime your stress response and move your energy away from 0 towards the middle of your stress rainbow for optimal performance.

Stressed woman in crowded airport.

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If, on the other hand, your holidays were full of stress, running around, purchasing gifts, organizing get-togethers, constant socializing with friends and family, or traveling from here to there and back again, your stress response was already well above the optimal. You didn’t really have a vacation—you need to ratchet down that stress response to get to the middle of your performance rainbow. Try relaxing activities like a massage, soaking in a hot tub, or a warm bath. Some gentle exercise is good too: yoga, Tai Chi, a walk in the woods. Or try deep breathing exercises or mindfulness meditation to tune down your stress response.

What does all this have to do with flow, or getting in the zone to be your most productive and fulfilling self at work? Flow has been defined as the state of effortless accomplishment. In fact, from a neurobiological point of view, flow is not effortless but is actually quite effortful. The brain’s stress centers are turned on—they need to be, as those adrenaline-like brain centers are what govern focused attention, a key ingredient of flow.

Focused freelancer embodying flow state and digital focus.

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So why does it feel effortless? It’s because the brain’s default networks are turned off. Those are the networks that make us aware of our internal feelings—things like our heart beating fast, feeling sweaty, or wanting to run to the bathroom. All those internal feelings remind us that our stress response is turned on, and we feel anxious.

But when the default networks are tuned down, we don’t feel anxious. Instead, we are aware of the other networks that are turned on during flow—those dopamine reward pathways that make us feel good. And feeling good is a key part of flow.

There is another element that determines flow. It is where you are on the continuum between boredom and stress, and that is determined by the match between your skills and the task at hand. If the task is too simple for your skill set, you will feel bored. If it is too complex, you will feel stressed.

So, when getting back into the work zone, try starting with tasks that are neither too boring nor too taxing. Re-organizing your files may be a good way to start. It helps you to toss out the old and start fresh with a clear roadmap for the coming year. Try doing this with a buddy—two can get through tasks quicker than one, and it helps you overcome procrastination. Next, try incrementally increasing the task difficulty level, like in a video game, to a point where you feel happy and a sense of accomplishment.

Titrating both skill levels and stress levels this way will help you find the middle ground where you experience enjoyment and heightened productivity—that is, flow!