Organize a Stress-Free Vacation

Organizing Work for a Stress-free Vacation

With the summer vacation season heating up, the prospect of some rejuvenating time off is a cool concept. A summer break allows you slow down, cut stress levels and reboot the brain via some new experiences. However, many adults struggle with allowing themselves to enjoy true downtime. They may either do work while on vacation, dread what awaits them upon returning, or both. Here are some basic tips for engineering a smoother summer escape.

• Clear the calendar in advance. Check your work calendar several weeks in advance of your vacation. If it contains established meetings, either delegate meeting attendance to a colleague, cancel the meetings or reschedule them for after your return.

• Let others carry the torch. Meet with your colleagues and/or direct report staff to assign responsibility for specific tasks in your absence. As appropriate for your job role, provide written instructions on how to handle specific situations. Review current issues and priorities. If you didn’t manage to complete time-sensitive tasks before leaving, delegate them to colleagues and empower them to make the necessary work decisions.

• Activate the out-of-office. Create a fairly detailed out-of-office reply for both your email and voice mail, including the planned date of your return. Provide the name and contact information for your work designee(s). As appropriate, state in your email out-of-office reply that you will not have access to email during your absence.

• Establish emergency contact boundaries. Give your colleagues specific guidelines about those few work situations that could warrant interrupting your vacation. It’s likely that the office will continue to function without you for a short time!

• Smooth your return…in advance. Consider creating a brief list of items that will need attention upon your return. If you can, get a pre-trip start on new assignments that are in the works. Getting a jump on tasks can help cut down on worries during your vacation and reorient you afterward—reducing your back-to-work stress.

• Straighten up before setting sail. Don’t leave a cluttered work space behind when you leave for vacation. Returning to a slovenly shop will be a major letdown. Close out any unfinished issues on your desk, file current documents for easy retrieval later, and clean up your work area.

• Strive for a work-free getaway. You’ll get a better boost to your mental and physical health if you can completely unplug from work for a time this summer. While away, try to let go of practical worries and be fully present amidst your new experiences. Making a clean break will help you feel recharged when you return.