The Eid holidays go in a delightful blur. It’s filled with family visits, delicious food, and lots of laughter. The best thing for most of us, is that we don’t need to check our inbox. Let the emails overflow. But alas, it’s over, the festive fog has lifted and the reality of work is painfully creeping back in. The struggle of returning to routine can be excruciating; you’re not imagining it.
And research says too: The emotional comedown after holidays can significantly affect motivation and focus. A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology noted that returning to work after breaks often triggers a post-vacation syndrome — including fatigue, irritability, and concentration issues.
So how do you actually get back into work mode without spiraling?
Here’s a research-backed roadmap to regaining your rhythm after Eid — gently, smartly, and with your energy intact.
Ease in with intention, not pressure: Think 168 hours
Jumping headfirst into your to-do list may seem heroic, but it’s more likely to backfire. According to productivity expert and author Laura Vanderkam, starting with small wins helps reignite motivation. “Tiny victories build momentum,” she writes in her book, 168 Hours.
By shifting your focus from daily limitations to the bigger picture of a week, the feeling of overwhelm and exhaustion ebbs. You start thinking about your time on a larger scale. The daily grind doesn’t wear you out, anymore. You can breathe a little more, armed with the belief that you have many hours to work with.
And so, 168-hour productivity method is essentially just a thought-reframing process, that can afford to be deeply beneficial for those who get easily worked up or stressed about deadlines and tight schedules. It requires reframing your entire thought process. 24 hours aren’t enough? Alright, think 168
So instead of tackling everything at once, sort your tasks by urgency and impact. Then choose just three key goals for the day. Think of it as defrosting your brain, not microwaving it.
Rebuild your routine
Routines are deeply tied to habit formation. Behavioural science shows that cues, even as simple as putting on work clothes or setting up your desk, can trigger mental shifts. Charles Duhigg, in The Power of Habit, explains that routines rely on consistent triggers to shift behaviours.
Try this: Recreate your pre-Eid morning ritual, even if it’s just making your go-to coffee or listening to a productivity playlist. These cues act like on-switches for your focus.
Don’t overcompensate for time-off
Many people fall into what experts call the ‘urgency trap’ after time away, rushing to do everything at once to prove productivity. But overextending yourself too quickly can lead to cognitive overload. A study in Occupational Medicine (2018) found that sustained focus and performance actually improve when employees are allowed to ease back in after breaks.
So pace yourself. Set boundaries. Block out time to recalibrate instead of defaulting to panic-mode multitasking.
Find flow task
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the concept of flow, the mental state of being deeply immersed in something enjoyable and meaningful. Getting into flow boosts satisfaction and focus, and research shows that even 15–30 minutes of such a task can reset your mental state. When we are in a state of flow, we are so absorbed in the task that we lose track of time. In contrast, when we are bored, our attention isn’t occupied, making us more aware of the passage of time. And when, we’re in the flow state, one’s attention is completely devoted to the task, resulting in a diminished awareness of self and time Pick one task you like doing, writing, coding, organisng, and dive into it without distractions. It’s like re-entering your work life through a side door.
Post-Eid blues are real: But temporary
Research from the University of Granada (2020) highlights how ‘post-holiday blues”’are a common emotional response, often rooted in the shift from autonomy to structure at work. The good news is that it usually fades after a few days of routine.
Remind yourself: Feeling sluggish doesn’t mean you’re lazy, it means your brain’s still transitioning. Be kind to yourself and your energy.
