The first day back to work after the holiday season is difficult, there’s no doubt about it.

But knowing that this day will come, there are ways you can help yourself, if just a little bit, to get over the physical and mental stress of getting back to normal after the holidays.

Wake up happy. 

If you start your day on a rough note, chances are, the bad streak will continue. Try and begin your morning with some positive affirmations: What are you thankful for today? What do you hope to accomplish? Take the time to enjoy your self-care routine.

Make a list.

Even if you’re not a list person, or a visual person, a list can help you plan your day around the most important tasks you need to accomplish, and think about what you can realistically get done later in the week. This first week back is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t burn yourself out on Monday.

Treat yourself.

If you managed to wake up on time and get yourself out of bed, you deserve a little reward. Whether you want to grab a cup from your favorite coffee joint or grab cocktails with a close friend after work, do something that makes you feel good and that will get the week off to a good start.

Don’t get caught up.

There will inevitably be things that you forgot to do from before the holidays that you’ll have to do the week you get back. Instead of getting hung up on these tasks, figure out how you can work them into your schedule without becoming overwhelmed. If they were able to wait a week, they can probably wait another few hours.

Take a break.

When we feel inundated at work, many of us tend to skip our lunch break or forget to step away from our desk for a minute. In reality, that’s the worst thing you can do for your productivity. Even if it’s just for ten or fifteen minutes, some time away from your computer can help you stay on track the rest of the day and can reduce stress.