The Best Vacation Ever (Part 2)

Successfully Leave AND Return

Last week I talked to you about the importance of setting a clear vision for your much needed vacation. You ask yourself better questions to help you define your vacation, reveal WHY you are taking time off, and determine how you will attain real rejuvenation while away. This addresses your INTERNAL struggles to clarify the purpose so you can balance expectations for you and your loved ones.

But what about all those pesky EXTERNAL elements that distract you on vacation? Looming unfinished projects, emails, text messages, social media, colleague requests, urgent tasks, sudden emergencies, the fear of returning to work further behind.

You may have taken one of two approaches many people assume: 1) Drop everything as soon as vacation hits and hope for the best upon your return or 2) Concede your vacation to the whims of work promising yourself you’ll only “read a few emails” so that it doesn’t all crumble while you’re out.

However, there’s a third way.

You can have true disengaged time off AND return to work ready and refreshed

To give yourself the freedom to enjoy your vacation, you will need to prepare ahead of time. I’ve provided a list of ways that you can do this.

1. OUTLINE

   Set aside some time to write a list of any tasks or projects that need to be completed before or after you return. Can any of it be deferred to a later date? Does anything need to be delegated? What preparation do you need to complete before you leave? After listing these out, you can begin putting your plans into action knowing that your responsibilities will be accounted for while you are away. This will give you the mental freedom to relax and be less tempted to worry about your work.

2. BLOCK

   Look at your calendar and block (schedule) time before you leave to wrap up any tasks and projects AND block time after your return so you can catch up on any new and truly important/urgent matters that happened while you were away. The amount of time is up to you. Maybe you just need an hour or two the morning or evening before you leave to finish some documentation and respond to emails. When you return, you might want to schedule an hour to look through emails and ask your team of anything new.

3. COMMUNICATE

   This piece is crucial to help your team understand your priorities. You can help teach them to respect your time away by communicating early, clearly, and often. You can start by asking your colleagues/supervisor if there is anything they need before you leave. Be sure to update them on your vacation dates, your intention to be unplugged while away, any responsibilities you’ve delegated, how to contact you in an emergency, and any other helpful information you want. Don’t forget to set your out of office auto-reply email so they are reminded of your status when they include you on emails.

4. DISCONNECT

   Unplugging from work is difficult so it must be intentional. Phones are amazing tools but are riddled with attention grabbing applications and notifications. Consider turning off device notifications or setting your phone to do-not-disturb. Try deleting social media apps temporarily or setting app timer limits. If you are with family or friends, ask them to hold you accountable. Bring books or e-readers to keep your phone out of your hands. Whatever you do, be deliberate in how you disengage and unplug from your work and give yourself space to actually be away.

You only get so much time off. If you don’t go into your vacation having prepared yourself and your work, you run the risk of being more exhausted than you were before you left.

But if you take the time to address the internal and external road blocks often associated with vacation, you can not only enjoy your time away but also return more rested and rejuvenated for you, your loved ones, and your team.

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