4 Tips for Taking a Real Vacation this Summer
In January 2016, I made a resolution- when taking vacation, take a real vacation!
Real vacation= no computer, email checking on my phone, or work calls + planning activities for myself and my family that bring me inspiration and relaxation.
Before 2016, my vacations were compromised by a series of terrible habits that included checking email at the beginning and end of each day, continuing to be available for standing conference calls, and committing to working on "that project I just can't seem to get to when I'm in the office." This approach wasn't lining up with my value of having new experiences or my intention to take time to deeply connect with my kids and husband. As my kids got older, there were fewer nap times to squeeze in work tasks. I started missing out on family outings. My husband found himself solo with the kids and my kids started asking for more time with me. I found myself feeling rushed, conflicted, and constantly stretched. These habits hampered my ability to actually relax, recharge, and most importantly, be present. I would end vacation feeling more exhausted than when I started because I never actually took a break from working.
Sound familiar?
According to the U.S. Travel Association's Project Time Off study, 52% of American's ended 2018 with unused leave.
While serving as a Program Director for a mid-size consulting firm, I was worried that I would fall behind or that something urgent requiring my help would come up while I was out. Having been so dedicated to my job for the last 15 years, my work had become my hobby. In essence, as much as I loved to travel and spend time with my family, I had actually forgotten what I enjoyed about vacation. I had to begin again and relearn how to make a vacation a real vacation. I created some key practices to help me stay on track. As I’ve transitioned into a new role and started my own business, I’ve found these tips to be even more important!
Enlist your colleagues and rely on your team- For most of my career, I was fortunate to be surrounded by experienced, responsible, and supportive colleagues. Truth is, if I was a solo act, it would be very hard for me to take substantial time off work. Delegating ongoing tasks and identifying points of contact while out of the office takes planning, communication, and being comfortable in asking for help.
Have a re-entry plan- Planning for my first day and week back to work before I leave for vacation has helped me stay in vacation mode because I know I have a structure in place that will take care of things when I'm out and help me get back into work mode once I return. I make sure that I have scheduled time on my first day back to check email and check in with my team.
Take a "buffer" day- I include an extra day off between returning or ending a vacation and going back to work as part of my plan. This is usually a Sunday. This allows me to take care of all my house holding responsibilities (groceries, meal planning, laundry, mail, unpacking) so that I can start my first day back at work without those things looming over me. A buffer day on the front end to prep, pack, and get psyched up for the vacation is also ideal.
Attack your email- Before leaving for vacation I make sure that all of my existing and cleared emails have been filed in a folder called "processed." This allows me to see only the new email when I return. Once I'm back at my desk, I do a cruise through my email to delete any junk/spam messages, then I answer emails that can be easily addressed (only "touching" them once) and flag emails that require me to respond with a review of documents, reports, etc. Ideally, I have cleared my schedule in the morning of my first day back so that I have a few hours to answer email before the phone calls and meetings begin. After a recent vacation, I was able to apply this system and clear 441 emails in about 3 hours.
I'm not perfect, every once and awhile I will take a phone call or address an urgent issue over email and text while on vacation. Having the structure in place to return to my vacation after those phone calls helped me get back on track and stay clear in my priorities. With a plan in place and with each successful work-free vacation I have come to trust that things will be fine while I'm out and that I will manage the mountain of work when I return. Even better, I return work and family life re-energized and ready to give my best.
What do you do to make sure your vacation is "real?"