Anxiety after holiday return to work and housework / life admin

[thundertoday]

We came back from our family holiday last Friday. We have young school-aged DC so after unpacking, the whole weekend was filled with family stuff and entertaining them. DC went off to summer club on Monday so DH and I can work for the next couple of weeks before we each take more annual leave to do childcare.

I WFH and run a business. I was itching to get back to work once the DC at summer club knowing I had loads to do, and was also keen to get some routine back in terms of my morning fitness and get on top of life admin and some household chores I’ve been meaning to tackle while the DC are happily occupied at summer club.

But no sooner did I return home on Monday morning having dropped DC off, I suddenly felt panic, overwhelm, fear and anxiety about all my tasks I’ve set myself. Even though the day before I couldn’t wait to get started. It’s now Tuesday and I’m experiencing anxiety and overwhelm leading to procrastination and fear of starting certain tasks. I’ve done nothing except tinker and have wasted the first two days of my valuable child-free work time.

I’m putting off my work projects, or responding to emails, and even putting away the clean laundry I now can’t face.

Has anyone else ever experienced anything similar?

I think getting back from holiday is exhausting. No joke. Travelling is tiring, unpacking is tiring, getting back into routines is tiring, laundry is tiring. Take your time - your mojo will come back.

Thanks. I do fee exhausted, you are right

Agree with PP: going away is extra work, extra work piles up while you are away, coming home is extra work, you are out of routine because it's holidays -- it's all just a lot. Cut yourself some slack. It's REALLY hard.

i recognise this definitely.

few techniques I use:

time blocking - mark you day out 9-10 emails, break, 10.15-11 house admin / laundry 11-1 insert larger work task here 1-2 lunch and tidying / a walk etc wtc

OR - Monday work, Tuesday house admin, Weds work

lists - classic but write down small tasks and just methodically tick them off. Break larger tasks into smaller pieces so you get instant results

put calls / fake deadlines in so you have to get stuff done as you’re accountable to someone else

And also just accept it takes at least a week to get straight - permission to leave boxes / washing / piles of stuff for now - tackle small bits every time you boil
the kettle and it will all eventually get done.

Oh and get DH involved - mine is pretty crap at taking initiative but is excellent when I send up the I’m overwhelmed Bat Signal and will jump into action with a list