6 Ways to Beat the Back-to-Work Blues After Vacation (Infographic) The transition from the hammock to the cubicle doesn't have to be a total drag, not with these pick-me-up tips up your sleeve.

By Kim Lachance Shandrow

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

catherine.douma | Foap.com

Sand. Sun. Surf. Sangria. Imagine total relaxation on vacation, miles away from the demands of work. Then imagine the dreaded first day back at the office. Cue the funk. Post-vacation feelings of stress, sadness and sometimes even anger and depression creep up.

It goes without saying. After unwinding on holiday, it's tough to wind back up to work mode. But making the tricky shift from leave to labor doesn't have to be a total drag, not if you plan ahead and give yourself permission to gently ease into the transition.

Related: A Business Owner's Guide to a Stress-Free Summer Vacation

From reminiscing about your vacation adventures to planning your next getaway, from eating right to exercising and beyond, there are plenty of smart, simple steps you can take to beat the back-to-work blues.

So shake the sand from your feet, take a deep, cleansing breath and try some of the soothing suggestions illustrated in the infographic from Medway Leisure Travel below. They should make your return to the daily grind a little bit easier, and maybe, just maybe even sustain you until your next escape.

Click to Enlarge

6 Ways to Beat the Back-to-Work Blues After Vacation

Related: How to Vacation Like a Boss

Kim Lachance Shandrow

Former West Coast Editor

Kim Lachance Shandrow is the former West Coast editor at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was a commerce columnist at Los Angeles CityBeat, a news producer at MSNBC and KNBC in Los Angeles and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Government Technology magazine, LA Yoga magazine, the Lowell Sun newspaper, HealthCentral.com, PsychCentral.com and the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Coop. Follow her on Twitter at @Lashandrow. You can also follow her on Facebook here

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Key to High-Impact Leadership

This article explores why emotional intelligence (EQ) is essential for modern leadership, its connection to business success and how leaders can cultivate it to drive results and inspire teams.

Thought Leaders

12 Big Ideas From Business Books Published in 2024

After considering more than 1000 books for our annual Non-Obvious Book Awards, a few big themes emerged. Read our trend recap and how these trends can help your business in 2025.

Starting a Business

The 5 Fears Every Entrepreneur Must Face — and Overcome

Entrepreneurship is full of fears, from failure to success. This article explores the five common fears entrepreneurs face and offers practical strategies to overcome them, turning obstacles into opportunities.