It's hard to get out. Getting over the white water is a skill not anticipated by many. Go with it and go fast. It really does help. Learn those long but low jumps landing planing to keep momentum.
Once you get out back, you're likely to be tired, take a break. This is the safest place! Even if the swell is mast high, out back your unlikely to get a rinsing!
Don't be tempted to plane back it. It's easily done, to get frustrated and take any wave but this really is a hiding to nothing. Smaller waves break closer in and leave you more of a challenge getting back out.
This is perhaps my biggest learning. Learn the break. Learn where the green waves are and learn where the white water is. Stay close to the peak but whatever you do, don't be tempted to ride that one wave all the way back to the beach. Getting back out over green waves is infinitely easier than their white water colleagues.