Feeling nostalgic for summer? How to beat the back-to-work blues

Image source, Getty ImagesByKate Whannel, Business reporter and Nick Triggle, Health correspondentPublished1 September 2026, 00:37 BSTThe alarm wakes you with a shock, the summer holiday is over and it's time to face that inbox full of unread emails.

This time last week, life was very different. You enjoyed late nights, lazy mornings balancing family fun and you time.

Even if you enjoy your job, the transition from holiday to work can be hard, particularly in September as the days begin to shorten.

But careers coach Sarah Robinson says it's better to "ease back in" by starting with small, manageable tasks and "quick wins".

"It's about trying to build momentum, because I think sometimes it can just feel overwhelming when you've got a massive inbox," she says.

Counsellor Susan Carr agrees. She says it isn't possible in every industry but where viable "be a bit kinder with your expectations of what you need to do on that first day back in the office."

That could mean spending the day going through emails rather than a full day of back-to-back meetings.

Tara Humphrey, a primary care leadership consultant, advocates keeping her out-of-office on for her first day back.

She also says re-entry into work life can be made easier by a clearly-written out-of-office message, encouraging people to follow up when she is back in the office - that eases the stress of whether you have missed something important while on holiday.

There is an alternative. She recalls a colleague who would simply delete all the emails he had been sent during his holiday.

Carr says it is also worth remembering what was enjoyable on holiday and "whether there's a way of integrating that more into your everyday life".

While it may not be realistic to have a siesta every day, you could try cooking some Spanish food, she suggested.