Taking a vacation is arguably one of the most efficient ways to recharge when you’re feeling exhausted or burned out. Spending more time with loved ones, significant others, and close friends while on vacation helps alleviate stress, minimize burnout, and improve work-life balance.
Unfortunately, 52 percent of American workers do not take advantage of their vacation time. It’s common for vacations to be interrupted by a flurry of phone calls and messages that require immediate attention, which takes away the fun from your vacation.
Being constantly reminded of work can hinder you from really enjoying your holiday, so avoid it at all costs! Here are a few suggestions to help you relax and enjoy your vacation more.
1. Prepare for Your Vacation
Taking care of your projects and commitment before going on vacation is a sign of a responsible employee. Therefore, a few days before your departure, do two essential things: sort out tasks that must be done before you leave and those that can wait till you return.
Make a list of everything you need to get done a few weeks before you leave on your vacation. This is to guarantee that no tasks are left unfinished when you return. Then, look for someone willing to take on some of your jobs and functions while on vacation. Your supervisor or a member of your team is the most likely candidate.
It’s a good idea to clean up your workstation before leaving the office. People on your team will locate any essential files they need if your workstation is neat. Then, whenever you come back, you’ll be able to start working right away.
2. Share Your Plans Before You Leave
Set up a quick meeting with your supervisor to give them an update about your plans. Alternatively, you can also send them an email outlining who will be filling in for you while you’re away. Finally, you should let your manager know if you’ve found any issues that might arise while you’re away and what you’ve done to fix them.
You’ll want to set aside some time before your departure to tell your coworkers and clients that you’ll be out of the office. Make an effort to meet with your coworkers before you go. Provide a summary of the tasks they will undertake and any resources or documents they may require. Get in touch with your most important clients, let them know you’ll be out, and ask if they need anything.
You don’t want your clients to be surprised why you aren’t returning their calls or responding to their emails. A pre-recorded phone message and an auto-reply email stating how long you’ll be away and who to contact during that time should do the trick! In addition, a virtual voicemail is helpful in situations where you still need to be reached but do not want to be bothered and invade your privacy. You can always find a virtual voicemail for business that suits your needs and keeps everything organized while you’re away.
3. Go Off Official Communication Channels
It is critical to avoid using official communication channels wherever possible when on vacation. Consider logging out of work apps and avoiding the temptation to check emails.
Staying offline allows you to re-establish your connection with yourself. It gives you the freedom to think and act without the pressures of a job weighing on your shoulders throughout your vacation. Taking a break from everything and being offline will help you feel better and at peace with yourself.
4. Plan Your Re-Entry
The transition back to work after a vacation is not necessarily difficult. However, you need to plan your return from your trip ahead of time. You don’t want to come back and feel worried shortly after returning, as that might completely negate the benefits of a holiday in a matter of days.
Get to bed early the night before your work and arrive a few minutes early so that you may get a jump start on your day. On your first day back, try not to overbook yourself with meetings and deadlines. Make sure you’re updated on any new projects or developments in your workplace and that you understand your immediate responsibility. But, of course, you should avoid putting too much pressure on yourself on the first day. Instead, relax and take pleasure in the benefits of your trip.
Unwind and Enjoy
When you have a chance to unwind and enjoy a vacation, you are more inclined to take on additional duties in the future. In addition, it has been discovered that employees are more productive and satisfied with their jobs when they have scheduled vacations. If you don’t take some time off, you could be doing a disservice to yourself and your business.