3 Refocus Hacks Every Leader Needs to Know After a Holiday Break

Use These 3 Tricks to Hit the Ground Running: Part 3 of 5 in Our Smart Restart Challenge for Leaders

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You’re back at your desk, coffee in hand, staring at your screen. Your mind keeps drifting to memories of holiday celebrations, or perhaps forward to all the projects awaiting your attention in 2025. Everything feels slightly off-kilter – like trying to read through foggy glasses.

This post-holiday mental haze is a common leadership challenge, but it’s one you can overcome with the right approach.

If you’re rolling your eyes at the thought of another article suggesting meditation as the solution, stay with me. What I’m about to share doesn’t require finding your zen or chanting mantras – it’s centered on practical strategies that busy leaders like you can use to regain your mental edge and hit the ground running after a break.

We’re now on Day 3 of our Smart Restart Challenge, and it’s time to focus on getting your own mindset back on track.

To recap, here’s where we are in the journey:

• Day 1: Reconnecting with Your Team After the Holidays

• Day 2: Reflecting on What Worked and What Didn’t

• Day 3: Getting Back on Track After the Break (You Are Here)

• Day 4: Setting Goals for the Year Ahead

• Day 5: Building Momentum with Early Wins

Today, we’ll explore three no-nonsense approaches that will help you reset your mental space and rediscover your leadership clarity. These are straightforward techniques you can implement right now, without burning sage or sitting cross-legged on your office floor. 😉

Let’s begin!

Ground Yourself in Your Physical Space

Your physical environment has a direct impact on your mental clarity, and this connection is well-documented in cognitive research.

A 2011 study in The Journal of Neuroscience found that cluttered environments actually compete for your neurons’ attention, effectively reducing your brain’s ability to focus and process information.

More recently, a 2021 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that perceived clutter increases stress and reduces life satisfaction, while managing clutter enhances feelings of control and well-being. This suggests that decluttering in the workplace can reduce stress, improve productivity, and enhance decision-making by minimizing distractions.

Even if you work in an environment where papers and files must remain accessible – such as a government office, school, or highly regulated industry – you can still create a “clarity anchor” to help you focus. Here’s how: