With the festive season around the corner, it’s time to switch off, relax and recuperate for the new year. But with all the deadlines and to-do lists, it can be hard to take a break, even when you’re on leave.
The temptation to answer one more email, complete one more task or help out when you’re on vacation is hard to resist. But there’s always going to be one more thing that needs to be done.
Vacations are necessary to allow you to recharge your batteries to 100%. They can help to keep burnout at bay, improve your mental health and set you up for a great year.
Here are some tips to help you switch off during the holidays.
1. Set up an Out of Office Email
An automated email response is a great way to let people know that you’re on leave and unable to answer emails. You can use your automated response to direct people to someone who can help them. Or if it’s not urgent, let them know when you’ll be back.
With an automated email response, you won’t have to worry about leaving emails unanswered or people sending multiple emails following up. You can let your mind rest, knowing that everything will be taken care of.
2. Delegate
If you’re worried that you’re going to fall behind or work won’t be done, make certain that you delegate your responsibilities. If there’s a crisis, how will it be handled? Make sure there’s a clear ladder of responsibility and your colleagues know when to call you in.
Delegating effectively will also allow you to make sure no mistakes are made during your time away.
Delegating also means making sure your colleagues know what constitutes an emergency. You’ll also need to outline which clients need special attention and which projects are more sensitive.
While it may seem like a lot of effort to put all of this together, it’s essential in making sure your team is on the same page. This will allow them to feel more confident when you’re away.
While you don’t want to be contacted all the time, you also won’t want people to avoid contacting you until it’s an absolute disaster. Finding this balance is necessary but it’s also a learning process.
3. Let your colleagues and clients know
Send out an email or even phone your most important clients and ensure everyone knows you’ll be on leave. Make sure you confirm that your clients have received your emails and that they know who they’ll be contacted by during the time away.
By doing this, clients and colleagues will know that you’re unavailable and how to work without you.
Communicating clear boundaries will also teach your colleagues the importance of taking a vacation and how important it is for them to respect that.
4. Finish pending work before you leave
Make a list of everything that has to be done before you leave. Look at what only you can do and what is the most pressing. If you manage to handle everything you need to get done before you go on leave, you’ll be a lot more likely to actually relax.
It might also be useful to create a list of all the work you need to conquer when you get back. This way, when you’re back from holiday you can hit the ground running without having to go back through everything.
If you make sure you do all the tasks you need to do and make a list of everything still to be done, your mind will be able to relax while you’re on vacation.
5. Plan a good holiday
Plan your holidays in advance to give your team (and yourself) enough time to prepare. Planning your holiday means more than just taking time off or using up your vacation days. It means creating a time for rejuvenation.
If you’re sitting with endless days off at home and nothing planned, it will be tempting to answer a couple of emails or do some ‘quick’ work. If you work from home or do hybrid work, this can be even more difficult. Even though it might seem silly, you actually need to plan your vacation.
Spending some time away from home can help you disconnect from work and properly switch off. Schedule time for relaxing, embracing creativity and exploring the world around you. It’s okay to leave your laptop at home and put your phone away.
Give yourself something to look forward to, plan to see your friends and family and spend your time doing all those things you never get around to.
Disconnecting From Work
A holiday is a time for you to reward yourself for all the hard work you’ve done during the year. It allows you to give yourself room to heal and rest. It’s necessary and helps ensure you’re on top form both at home and at work.
The importance of downtime should not be ignored. By switching off, you’ll disconnect, recharge and return to the office with plenty of energy.
