5 Ways to Disconnect from Work on Vacation
Vacations are important. They are meant to serve as the ultimate reset button leading to new outlooks, creative insights, and reduced stress levels. However, even if you are lying on the beach having a nice cold drink while checking emails on your phone, you aren’t truly getting the break you need. So what are some of the ways you can unplug on your next vacation?
Plan Ahead
Picking your vacation dates strategically can make things a lot easier on everyone. Try to plan your vacation when you can anticipate things will be slower at the office. Also make sure to check with your manager for approval to allow him or her to coordinate coverage while you are away. Managers can also assist you in finding dates that will least affect your project of coworkers.
Finish or Delegate Major Projects
Before going on vacation, you should ideally finish any major projects so that your vacation occurs during a pause on your schedule. If that just isn’t feasible, try delegating or distributing your tasks to other coworkers while you are away. This is a great way to insure that you are not checking in at work and that you can have a clear mind knowing that you don’t have to worry about the project when you get back to the office.
Inform Key Contacts
It’s standard at most companies to set up an “out of office” email notification for the period that you are away. However, it’s also important to let any key clients, or people that you consistently work with, know that you will be away. Letting them know you will be out of the office in advance will let you tie up any loose ends and address any concerns they may experience during your absence. Always designate a key contact person in your out of office email, in case something does come up while you are away.
Schedule Your Available Time in Advance
If you truly can’t resist checking in while on vacation, try setting specific times of the day where you will check your phone and email. Let your co-workers, and other people, know they can expect to hear from you during those designated times. While checking your emails, scan the subject line first. If it doesn’t look important, don’t even open it since it can wait until you return to the office.
Trust Your Co-Workers
Even if a major issue arises while you are on vacation, it doesn’t mean you have to drop everything and get to work. Let your point of contact person be the first person to address the issue and only jump in if it is the last resort. By letting your co-workers manage the issue, you help build their confidence and show that you trust them. Not to mention most issues work themselves out anyways.
There is a strong case to be made that taking time to get away from the office is good for our mental and physical health, but also a great boost to our careers. What are some of the ways that help you unplug from work while you are on vacation? Let us know!
