Summertime is often synonymous with summer vacation. Whether your idea of a great vacation is sunning on a beach, hiking through a national park, or just visiting someplace you’ve never been before, vacation should be relaxing. Nothing ruins that feeling faster than work-related stress. If you missed our post on the business benefits of reduced stress click here.
Today we have a few vacation tips to help ensure that you are actually able to relax and enjoy your time away.
Plan Ahead. If possible, plan your vacation for a slower time at work. You’ll be much more relaxed while you’re away if you know that things are already less hectic at the office. Plus, it’s easier for other employees to cover for you when they have more downtime at work themselves. Less work piling up while you’re out means less playing catch up when you get back.
Avoid Going Into ‘Vacation Mode’ Before You Leave. It’s easy to slip into ‘vacation mode’ days or even weeks before your vacation. You’ve planned your trip and you’re really looking forward to the break. As the day of your departure gets closer it’s easy to start to relax at work. You start to think, “I can do that after my vacation,” or “I’ll take care of that when I get back.” Slacking off before your vacation can lead to major headaches when you return to work. It’s hard enough to get back into your routine after vacation, facing mounds of work certainly isn’t going to make it any easier.
Decide In Advance How Accessible You Want To Be While You’re Away And Stick To It. It may sound great to say that you’re going to be totally unreachable while you’re on vacation but depending on your level of responsibility, that may not be practical. It might be better to take a quick phone call during your vacation and solve a problem as opposed to letting it ride for a few days and then trying to sort it out when you get back. Don’t make the mistake of trying to handle everything while you’re gone though. This is your vacation - if something can wait then it should!
Ease Back Into Work. You probably can’t work half days or show up in your swimsuit and flip flops, but you can provide some little moments of relaxation for yourself those first days back. Go out to lunch with coworkers. Not only will it give you something to look forward, but it’s a great time to share your vacation stories without detracting from work. Bring a snack that reminds you of your vacation. Sometimes just a fifteen minute sensory reminder of your vacation can bring back that relaxed feeling.
Remember that summer vacation should above all be a chance for you to recharge your batteries. It should be relaxing and fun. Follow the tips above and enjoy!
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