First: Don’t rush. Rather than frantically unpacking on the night of your return, spend your first night back relaxing and letting loved ones know that you have arrived home safely. Nothing kills the calming effects of an extended break like hitting the ground running the minute you walk through your front door.

Then: Take a (planned) personal day, and use the free time to organize your home life: Unpack, pick up your pets from sitters or kennels, collect your mail, go to the market, and catch up on e-mail and phone calls. That way, when you return to work the next day, you’ll be fresh, organized, and productive.