Back to work

Align your energy for the upcoming Monday after Diwali

- Anjali Kochhar

ight now, we are all in the spirit of festivities. All set for Diwali and Bhai Dooj! Dresses are ready. Shopping done! The house is decorated. Sweets are ready. Plans are made. Work has taken a backseat. But, deep down, we are all worried about the upcoming Monday, which will not be a Monday of Diwali or a week of festivities. It will be the beginning of the week of expectations from the bosses, and deadlines emerging at work. An emotional jet lag is a normal reaction we all are going to feel. And trust me, you are not alone in it as well.

In fact, a recent survey in India shows that staff productivity can dip by up to 25% during the Diwali week. From shorter working hours to the fatigue of travel and socialising, the country collectively slows down. But the real challenge begins right after, how do we find our rhythm again? Let’s discuss in detail.

Monday after Diwali

“Returning to office work after a long festive break might feel like an unpleasant exercise to many,” laughs Anubhav Singh, Founder of Bridgers.

“But as adulthood would have it, we all have to show up irrespective of what we feel from within! If meeting your office crush or work bestie is not enough motivation for you to show up on a Monday post-holidays, well, your manager’s sweet phone call or an email reminding you of your pending work might compel you to think otherwise. And yes, the reunion with the coffee counter will also help!”

Humour aside, psychologists suggest that post-festival blues are real. The body is still recovering from erratic sleep, indulgent eating, and overstimulation. That's why experts recommend a “soft landing” into work, instead of rushing headlong into deadlines.

Rest, rhythm, renewal