After returning from a weeklong dream vacation, wouldn't you think I'd be refreshed and ready to get back to work with a totally new perspective? Well, I'm not! I want another vacation -- maybe one that lasts my entire life. I never had this problem when we've had our 5 children tagging along, but a romantic vacation for just the two of us has left me aggravated that I have to come back to reality.

As Betsy Gartrell-Judd of www.myria.com explains, "Relaxing vacations may be refreshing, but they make work look bad. I've found that it's stressful vacations that give you a new perspective ("Normal life is not so bad after all!"). Family vacations are like really expensive versions of home life with the stress dial jacked up to maximum. A relaxing vacation (i.e., no kids) just reminds me of how much we took alone/couple time for granted in those pre-kid days and we just want a longer vacation so we can fully appreciate alone/couple time just a little bit longer."

So there's the explanation of "why" I feel this way, now what can I do about it? Do you have a tough time getting back to business after taking a stress-free vacation? If so, you might enjoy these insights gained from a few entrepreneurs who shared how they get back in gear after taking a break:

• Do some planning. When coming back to work, I like to organize what I need to do and start with a plan. That usually gets me excited enough to get going with my work," offers Alanna Webb of www.loveinvites.com and www.lovegrams.com.
• Get motivated by something new. Amanda Formaro of www.familycorner.com explains, "Getting back to the humdrum of it all can be difficult. Whenever I feel that way, I start a new project or check my to do list for something I have been wanting to tackle for some time. Like implementing a new script or putting up content I've been meaning to put up. It usually helps me get back into perspective."
• Ease your way back in. Bob Cortez of Total Quality Marketing, Inc. http://marketing.tqm-online.com shares his after-vacation routine: "First off I respond to any emergencies, although sometimes the response may just be 'Just got back in town and I'll get back to you later today.' Then rather than diving into any heavy-duty work, I'll do some reading in my favorite business related newsgroups and discussion lists. Depending how 'out of it' I am, I may write a few posts to these groups (in reply to someone else). The act of reading and responding in business related forums seems to put my head back in the game, and I'm able to go back to fighting fires and lighting up the world."
• Do what you really love. "If you can't bring yourself to get back into work, do the part of your work that you really, really love," says Alanna Webb of www.lovestories.com. Don't stress yourself forcing yourself to do something you don't feel up to -- unless of course there's an important deadline or emergency surrounding it. Get back into gear with something you enjoy about your work.
• Do housework. If you work from home, take the opportunity to do housework. After a couple days of cleaning, you'll be looking forward to getting down to business.

Overall, don't panic. If you come back not in the mood to work, try a few of these tips and eventually you'll be back into the groove of things.

Marnie Pehrson, a mother of 6, has been highlighting truth and talent for 15 years. Whether it's writing a novel that spotlights individuals who've made a difference in the world or helping a talented entrepreneur create a platform for his life's work, Marnie underscores truth and talent in innovative and compelling ways. She is the creator of www.IdeaMarketers.com and helps experts promote their products and services online. For more information on her various projects and books, visit http://www.pwgroup.com. Contact the author, Marnie Pehrson , at marnie@pwgroup.com
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