How do you motivate yourself to return to work after a long period of leave?

[LittlePrecious]

I've just had two and a half weeks off work. I was meant to go back today but I had zero motivation so I sacked it off.

I will do an email/admin day tomorrow and then back at work properly from Monday.

I have zero motivation. I visited my mum last week - she's retired and gave me a glimpse of what that'll be like which demotivated me even more because it's some years off yet.

How do you get yourself psyched up to return to work after a period of leave?

PS: Please don't advise me to leave my job 🤣 I don't mind my job at all and definitely not looking to change.

Honestly, even if I didn't like my job, the whole paying the bills thing is pretty motivating, I find. Genuinely.

I feel you OP. Best to focus on the gratitude for having your job, for being able to use your skills and for being healthy to go to work, for not being under some horrific taliban type rule where you wouldn't be entitled to work or to feel safe when you do it. Look for the positives and they'll be there 😊

I'm a teacher and feel like this after every summer holiday. But my colleagues rely on us all working together, the kids are there waiting for us to do our thing.

Plus I've got holidays, bills and a new kitchen to pay for so that's my biggest motivation.

On Tuesday, by 10am it will be like we've never been away and the holiday will be like a distant memory.

By starting the countdown to the next holiday.

I agree with @MidYearDiary, I don't work for the kicks, I just really like paying my mortgage and bills. I think of my pension. That kind of thing really motivates me.

Thank you all so much.

As part of my admin day today, I did a full stock-take of my finances which has helped some, not least because I've been able to calculate how many months until I can feasibly retire 😅