5 Day soft Landing

Written By Peter Larkum

Practical Tip Wednesday: The "Soft Landing" Approach

Transition anxiety is real - that knot in your stomach when switching from holiday mode to work mode. Here's a simple technique I teach managers:

The 5-Day Soft Landing:

Day 1: Take it Slow

  • Seriously - Slow down. Today is about personal reconnection

  • Try not to set any goals or agree to any tasks

  • Reconnect with your workspace and get your bearings

Day 2: Ease back in

  • Start with familiar, low-pressure tasks

  • Limit meetings to essential ones only

  • Allow extra time for everything

Day 3: Gradually increase

  • Add one challenging task to your day

  • Re-engage with collaborative work

  • Check in with your team about their adjustment

Day 4: Relax, to regain control

  • Slow down again - make sure today is about team reconnection

  • Check in with those around you, look at your diary for next week, and start making plans

  • Grab coffees and make sure you break for lunch

Day 5: Full engagement

  • Resume normal workload

  • Schedule important meetings

  • Start structuring the top 3 things you need to do next week

Why this works: Your brain needs time to shift gears. Jumping straight back into high-pressure situations can trigger anxiety and reduce performance.

For managers: Apply this to your team too. Don't schedule crucial presentations or major deadlines for the first three to five days back.

Try this: Next time you return from time off, give yourself permission to ease back in. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.

Peter Larkum
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Spotting Post-Holiday Struggles