You plan a vacation to relax, rejuvenate, and forget all about work. But being out of the office often means doing a mountain of extra work before you leave and after you return. How can you ensure your time off doesn’t inadvertently make you even more stressed? Before your vacation, overcommunicate and delegate. Make a prioritized list of tasks that need to be done during your time off and establish a handoff process for each one, coordinating with anyone who will be filling in while you’re away. Then send out advance notice of your vacation to anyone who might be impacted, so they’re all aware of how long you’ll be gone and whom to go to in your absence. During your vacation, set an intention: Are you trying to relax, learn about a new culture, or connect with friends and family? Think of this intention as your only job during your time off—and give yourself permission to unplug from work so you can focus on achieving it. Finally, when you return from vacation, take the first 30 minutes of your first day back to make a list of priorities, ideally before you open your inbox. Then tackle your new to-do list one item at a time. Remember: You deserve a restorative vacation—not additional stress for taking it.
This tip is adapted from “How to Minimize Stress Before, During, and After Your Vacation,” by Tristan Elizabeth Gribbin
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