Returning to work after a well-earned break can be a challenging adjustment. The shift back into routine, deadlines, and responsibilities often feels abrupt, especially after a period of rest and recharge.
The pressure is on to deliver returns as soon as we trade the beach days and backyard barbecues for early alarms, boots and high-vis. Mentally, you might still be in holiday mode, where time felt slower and priorities shifted. Physically, the early starts and long days can take a moment to adjust to again.
We caught up with our MATES in Construction Field Officers, who offered some tips on overcoming the post-holiday blues and to help you get back into the swing of things.
Start with a check-in.
Not all of our holidays are the same, filled with good times and memories. For some of our friends, this time of year can be lonely and evoke painful emotions. Others might not have had a break at all, working through the holidays.
Take time to catch up. Find out how they spent their break. If they’ve been working, ask them about their time away from work.
Focus on What You Can Control
While we often want to pick up where we left off, it’s not always possible. Our routines
can be disrupted; it takes time to reset our priorities. Give yourself time to rebuild your routine gradually, removing the expectation of racing through your tasks.
This is your reminder to stack the small wins. It might be as simple as beginning with lighter tasks, practicing healthy eating and remaining hydrated as we get back into physical work.
Take a moment to ensure you’re Ready and Safe
Things may have changed since you were last on site. Start your day by reviewing any recent communications, safety updates, or notices posted while you were away.
Take time to check your equipment, tools, and work areas. This is a great time to check in with yourself too. Ask yourself questions about your processes, communication and interactions.
What We Heard from the MATES Well-Being Survey, Supported by ASB
In July 2025, MATES worked alongside the wider construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure industries, hearing from over 3,300 workers about their well-being at work and at home.
The 2025 survey revealed a workforce proud of what they do and deeply connected to the meaning in their work. While job satisfaction remains strong, the results also highlighted ongoing challenges to worker well-being — including exhaustion, workload, financial stress, and physical health issues.
At the same time, workers were clear on what works: mateship, meaningful work, respect, and connection. The challenge now is for us all to contribute to positive environments that ignite hope for ourselves and others.
Hope doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be ignited in the smallest of acts — a smile, a word of encouragement, a kind gesture, a call from a mate, a moment of learning, or the courage to ask someone how they’re really doing.
What is MATES in Construction
MATES VISION
A suicide-free New Zealand Construction Industry in which workers and their families enjoy good mental health.
MATES MISION
MATES in construction, in partnership with the New Zealand Construction Industry, prevents suicide and achieves improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes of workers and their families through quality programs and education, professional support, capacity building and research.
MATES IN CONSTRUCTION NZ
MATES is a charity established in 2019 to reduce the high level of suicide among New Zealand construction workers.
The MATES in Construction (MATES) model is an evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention programme for the Construction industry. MATES leverages industry participation and support to further embed suicide prevention and mental health awareness into our industry culture. The model delivers an integrated programme of community development and support, utilising training as a tool to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking, help-offering and help-accepting behaviours.
Support is provided through clear pathways including education, training and workforce capacity strengthening to build communities of mates who help mates. Our industry has its own unique culture, and MATES adopts a cross-industry approach with a standardised and consistent programme, delivered face-to-face by Field Officers to the construction industry across Aotearoa.
