How to Take a Vacation from Work

In today’s workforce, it’s often hard to take a true vacation.  People in the office can get in touch with us via cell phone, or we check email on our phones.  It takes a lot of true intent to take a true vacation from work!  Despite being difficult, it’s necessary.

I saw this post a few days ago on the Mtivation Facebook Page, and it got my attention:

I still regret when, 10 years ago, I worked on our honeymoon.  My company acquired another company and we had to launch a new product on short notice.  I didn’t want to give up control and let someone else handle a few things while I was out.  So, there I was, on the beaches of Tahiti, looking at promotional materials and providing feedback to my agency.

What?!

Yes, it’s true.

I can’t get that time back.  But, now I’m super focused on ensuring I get time off.  It takes preparation in advance of your vacation from work so that you can fully disconnect and recharge.  You need to in order to get perspective and form connections to family.

So how can you be sure to be able to actually take a vacation from work?  Let’s see…

How to Address the Top 4 Barriers to Taking A Vacation from Work

Challenge 1:  People call you while you’re on vacation

This happened to me when I was on maternity leave.  So, not a vacation per se, but I was out on leave when a colleague called me for help on something.  He felt horrible when I told him I wasn’t in the office because I was home with my 2-day old baby.  And then my mind went racing as to what was going on at work without me, and why he needed the information to begin with.  It really made me crazy for a few days.

So, what should you do?

What To Do:  Tell people in advance of your vacation

You can do this a variety of ways, from sending an email to key stakeholders in advance, or putting a note on their calendars.

One of the most effective ways to inform people of your upcoming absences is to write your vacation dates in your email signature.

Huh?  I don’t follow what you mean by email signature?

Your email signature is the text at the bottom of your email where you have your name and contact info.  You can add your vacation dates below that.  For example:

If you start communicating a few weeks in advance, you maximize the chance that people will remember and you’ll get the time off!

Challenge 2:  Some things need to get done while you’re out

You can find it difficult to take a vacation during a time in which you have a big project or deliverable due.

What To Do:  Do everything you can in advance, and find a partner to do what you can’t.

Although it may create more near-term work, I encourage you to do everything you can in advance.  For example, put the entire report together before you leave.  If you are missing a key data point, then highlight that and ask a partner to fill it in.  If you need to provide an assessment based on that data, I suggest you write multiple versions (i.e., if the value is higher than you expected, lower, etc).  Then instruct your kind co-worker on what to plug-in.

And, most importantly, leave your laptop at home!  If you know you won’t have your laptop available, you’ll be forced to do everything in advance.

Challenge 3: People forget and still send you emails

Even if you tell people you will be out AND have a coverage plan, people may still forget and send you emails.  Then, you come back to a full inbox!  And, if you check your email on vacation, you’ll start to feel the pressure.

What To Do:  Turn on your out-of-office reply one day before your vacation.

So, say you will be out on vacation starting June 1.  I suggest you turn on your out-of-office notification on your email on May 31.  So, anyone who emails you on May 31 will get an auto-response saying you’re out of the office.  You can address those emails if you want (or not because people think you’re out-of-office).  But most people will now remember you’re out, having just received an out-of-office.  So, you likely won’t get as many emails for the duration of your vacation.

Challenge 4:  You do not ever plan a vacation

Months and months go by and — despite saying “you need a vacation from work” — you never actually take one.  It’s an easy trap to fall into.

What To Do:  every January, block time throughout the year.

Just do it.  Once you put it on the calendar, you’ll be more apt to actually follow through with it.  And, besides, the anticipation is half the fun…you can get creative with the countdown!

I do hope these tips help you take advantage of your time off!  Write any other tips (or share your vacation plans) below in the comments!

If you liked this post, please check out these:

• How to pack for a business trip with just 10 pieces
• Confessions of a Type A Personality
• Career Advice I Would Give Myself As a New Professional

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