About a third of Finns feel anxious about going back to work after the summer holidays (Duunitori and Taloustutkimus). The most common reasons are workload, unfinished tasks, and the daily grind. The good news is that the feeling rarely lasts long. Sampsa Puttonen, senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, points out that for most people, the fatigue eases within a week or two once they settle back into their routine.
One of our best tips is simple: a good way to ease back into everyday life is to come into the office in person. This isn't just a claim, it's something we've observed first-hand in the hallways and by the coffee machines. Here are five reasons it's worth coming into the office, especially right after your holiday.
If your summer has mostly played out on the sofa or the cottage dock, coming back to the office helps your mind and body register quickly that the holiday is over and a new rhythm has begun. Getting dressed for the office is often part of that shift too, and a little confidence boost often comes just from the mirror, still tanned from summer. No wonder mirror selfies are so common these days.
One concrete tip for after the holidays is simply catching up with your colleagues. A relaxed chat gets everyone back on the same wavelength and builds the kind of team spirit that makes working together easier. It also keeps information flowing: you hear quickly what's happened while you were away, and it's easier to get up to speed on current goals and the work itself. That works best when your colleagues are actually there in person.
Short 10 to 15 minute micro-breaks during the day help you recover enough to feel more relaxed by the evening. At the office, these moments happen naturally: a good coffee, a chat with a colleague, or a quick step outside.
At Innovation Home, the most popular spots for recovery are our Work & Relax massage chairs, though people stop by other break spaces just as often during the day. In our experience, small extras like shared coffee-and-bun mornings or breakfast smoothies also make people more inclined to come into the office, and give a literal energy boost. Despite the central location, Kamppi's own inner courtyard and Tampere's rapids offer a lovely outdoor break during the workday.
A short walk or bike ride to the office starts your day off better than diving straight into your inbox. The same goes for the middle of the workday: a short walk at lunch, or a stop at the gym before or after work, restores your energy just as well as a morning workout.
At our central locations, people fit in "little loops" during the middle of the day, and our on-site break-time workouts have also been popular during the day, especially after the summer break.
Reward a good day's work with some pleasant company once the office day wraps up: it lifts your everyday mood and it's a nice way to catch up with friends. A central location makes this easy. Just remember that a good night's sleep always does the most for real recovery.
Office days make the return to everyday life easier: after your holiday, you don't have to push through it alone, your surroundings do some of the work for you.
Innovation Home's homes for good work bring together your own office, shared spaces, and services for one monthly price, at central locations in Helsinki's Kamppi and Arabia, and at Finlayson in Tampere.