I love this post from Andrew over at Jobacle on how the first day of school is like the first day of work.  Andrew has some tips for how you can use your latent school memories to get back into the workplace grind after those lazy days of summer: 

• Get enough sleep.  Not only are zzs important for physical and mental restoration, but the right amount will help you create a more positive attitude, give you more energy, and enhance your coping skills. However, if you don't sleep well the night before that big presentation - don't over think it! 
  Eat a good breakfast.  Mom didn't let you run off to school without a bite to eat, why should work be any different?  If you're not lucky enough to have mom stop by with her magical French toast, a quickie bowl of cereal will do the trick.  People who skip breakfast have slower reaction times and are more accident-prone.
• Lay out a new plan.  Like Penelope Cruz says in Vanilla Sky, "every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around."  This is your chance to set goals - some realistic, some far-fetched. On the first day of class you write them down, then spend the rest of the school year working to achieve them.
• Be prepared.  This is also known as Do Your Homework.  When we're not ready for a task, we tend to be anxious. Think about it.  Pretend you're back in seventh grade.  Knowing you had a completed assignment put you at ease.  However, an incomplete assignment had your stomach in knots, wondering if the teacher was going to randomly call your name. 
• Introduce yourself.  First impressions are important. It's never easy because anything that carries the risk of rejection we tend to avoid.  If there's anyone you come across that you don't know on a first-name basis, bite the bullet and say hi. 
• Ease into a schedule.  One of the hardest things about heading back to school after the summer is the dramatic change in routine. If you are changing jobs or embarking on a career transition, try to slide into it gracefully. 

Thanks Andrew!  Some thoughts from me:  pretending it’s the first day of school can go a long way with respect to your attitude too.  The first day, after all, brings new people, new challenges, and a whole new scene.  If you’ve been feeling bored or complacent in your job lately, use this opportunity to look at it with fresh eyes, as if you’ve never done this work or attended these meetings before.  Imagine that you have infinite patience and that all your cynicism has been washed away.  Even if your renewed sense of enthusiasm only lasts a few days, you’ll have given yourself a valuable gift.