🎨 How to Properly Switch Off for Vacations to Get a Better Life and Work Perspective

At a Glance:

• Are we able to switch off from work during vacations?
• 7 tips to switch off from work and let yourself enjoy holidays
• My way of taking holidays and disconnecting from work

Vacation time is getting closer and closer. Some of you might have already started it with the earlier end of the school year in the U.S. this year, while others from different parts of the world might be waiting for school to finish and planning how to handle kids' time during summer vacation. Some of you might not be dependent on the school year (if you don’t have kids, then you see vacations differently). No matter which group you are in, everyone needs a holiday and some proper time off. By time off, I really mean switching off from the tough part of your job, especially if the job is causing stress for you or is kind of frustrating (this is also a red flag to think about changing it - but that’s not the topic for this week).

Switching off… Having your own business isn't easy to switch off. You think you are needed 24/7 and you can’t be disconnected. But many people also think about their employee world - ‘I can’t be without a Wi-Fi connection’, ‘I can’t go for longer than a week’, ‘I can’t miss that meeting’, etc. Reasons are endless.

Today, I will share with you my way of switching off for holidays and the rationale behind it. I will also list some tips and best practices that I have seen working for different people that I either tried myself or consider a good way in different work setups.

My Way of Taking Holidays and Disconnecting from Work

The majority of my career, I was working in consulting on project-based engagements. So my holidays usually were planned after a project ended, which, of course, helped me switch off. If you didn’t leave an open topic, you could more easily enjoy vacation. But that wasn’t always the case plus now, working in a startup as a leader, this isn’t the case anymore. But no matter the type of work I was doing, I was always very clear about my vacation rules. Setting boundaries is essential.

Now, working full-time but also exploring my own business, it is challenging to switch off and find time to rest, so I do it differently.

I put a lot of attention into avoiding burnout and an overworked state.

How?

I have daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rules I implemented in my life that help me keep the balance and get sufficient time to rest, recharge my batteries, and enjoy time outside of work.

Daily:

• I have a midday walk with my dog - this is my power hour to help me keep going during the second part of my day.
• On average, a minimum of 70% of the work I do, either at my full-time job or in my own business, is something that I’m passionate about. I really turned my work life into maximization of things I enjoy doing. If that ratio is going down, I make sure this is just a temporary thing (not longer than a couple of days).
• 15, 25, and 50-minute meetings to have time for short breaks in between and move a bit, and stand up from my desk.

Weekly:

• Each Sunday, sit down and reflect on your week. Personal, private, successes, failures.
• I make sure to give myself feedback and actionable tips to implement changes if my week was a bit off.

Monthly:

• I mark one day each month in the calendar as a ME day - plan this in advance. This is a day for myself when I do things I love and enjoy, like getting a massage, going for a long walk, staying at home all day to just chill out… anything that will make me relax and let me spend time by myself.
• I also have a rule about traveling for work or pleasure - I am not to travel more than twice out of 4 weeks (1 travel per week). This helps me be more in control of my routine but also not to get too tired and not to have too much to catch up on.

Annually:

• For my switch off, I usually plan a long holiday in October/November in a different timezone. I do it to get proper rest time but also to escape from rainy autumn in Europe.
• For short time off, I plan my annual solo trip - a few days just by myself to be able to get a different perspective. This is my time off work that I plan in advance, not to be bothered by anyone during those days.
• I also spend the summer and Christmas periods in my hometown with family. This is usually a bit slower work period so that I can get more rest and spend quality family time.

This is my way of switching off during the year, not only for vacations. But everyone needs to find a fit - based on your needs, preferences, and the way you want to work and to match your life's non-negotiables.

If you are looking for some ideas, below is a short list that can help you.

My Best Practices to Switch Off from Work and Let Yourself Enjoy Holidays:

Rule 1. Separate work and personal mobile!

This is, in my view, non-negotiable. I have always had two phones. For several reasons (privacy, security, but also not to let ANY employer control my life). During my vacation or days off, I can disconnect more easily, just not taking my work phone with me.

Rule 2. Find a leader to cover for you.

Make your team member a leader while you are off. This is a perfect way to empower people in your team and let them grow. Just do it smartly - ensure there is another senior person they can reach out to if there is a problem, e.g., your boss or your peer.

Rule 3. Master planning is your best friend.

Plan in advance – no important meetings during your holiday. If you know about your holiday, avoid planning any meetings that might make you anxious if they happen without you during your holidays. Ask for rescheduling so that you are present.

Rule 4. Prepare a perfect handover list.

Make a list of topics that you were dealing with, a short status, and assign a person who will cover for you while you are out. Make sure to give them access to all relevant documents and the history of the topic, not to cause frustration on their end.

Rule 5. Set boundaries for emergency contact.

(In cases where you can’t be unreachable - e.g., being a lawyer in the middle of a case, sometimes you need to receive or sign a document as the only entitled person or simply by wanting to be a good friend and support someone if you know this might be important - no judgments here, people might want to do this)

If you have to, agree on the contact approach – e.g., urgent mobile number only if they have to, no constant contact – people will figure things out without you if they have to.

Rule 6. Change time zones.

Change time zones while going on holiday – this helps switch off. This is a very good way to avoid calls, and joining virtual meetings - ideally, go somewhere where it is daytime when you sleep.

Rule 7. (Always works) Go to a place where there is no network.

Game changer. No service, no calls, no internet. Just you and nature. The perfect way to switch off. The only thing you need is to take that brave decision and find out that the world has not ended while you were away, and you can do it again next time.

This week, instead of a challenge, I have a question for you:

How do you ensure proper switch-off time during vacations?

Respond to my email and share your experiences.

I would love to hear your stories!