Back-to-Work Wellness Tips for a Successful Q4

The looks and complaints start around 7 a.m.

“I’m just feeling kind of off,” says my nine-year-old son.

“Tell me what’s going on,” my wife says, “Does your head hurt, your stomach, do you feel nauseous?”

“I’m just really tired,” he replies, “and sometimes I feel kind of nauseous.”

My wife listens intently, keeping a neutral face and tone. Luckily, I have my back turned because I can’t help but chuckle. The tradition of faking sick on the first day of school is as old as time.

Apparently, I’m not as subtle as I think because I get a grimace and a grunt from my son. So I tell him the truth: “Transitions are hard. I used to hate going back to school, too. You feel anxious and excited—it can be a lot. But you can do hard things.”

He doesn’t have much of a counterargument, since he was just chasing his four-year-old brother around the house with all the energy of a healthy boy. So he smiles and heads off to get ready for school.

The Truth About Transitions

As I turn back to cutting up a white nectarine for his lunch, I realize I have to tell myself the same thing about transitions sometimes: They’re tough, but doable and worthwhile. We adults may not have to worry about the first day of school, but we all tend to get the back-to-work blues when it’s time to head back to the office after summer vacation.

There’s no silver bullet to make transitions easier. Getting back in the groove of work is a challenge every year, just like saying goodbye to summer stone fruit. I felt sad when I ate a gorgeous white peach this morning, knowing it could be one of the last until next summer. But letting go of those peaches makes space for sweet, fresh California grapes and one of my favorite fall items, the Asian pear. And a few back-to-work wellness tips can help you get in the right headspace and make these transition periods easier.

Back-to-Work Wellness Tips for Curing the Blues

I get through transitions by acknowledging my feelings and letting myself feel both emotions—the sadness and the joy—at the same time. It also helps to remind myself that everything is cyclical. It’s reassuring to think that summer, like seasonal fruit, will come again.

Last but not least, I try to lean into the excitement of starting something new. My go-to is singing along loudly to a good, upbeat song. (It’s best in the car with the windows down.) This week, I rocked out to “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys.

If you live in San Francisco, you might have seen me singing at the top of my lungs in my Toyota Prius while driving south on Highway 101, letting the past go and smiling about what’s coming. Give it a try if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by a transition—it might help more than you think!