Many people take vacations but don’t really know how to take one effectively. Others foolishly say they don’t need a vacation. But everyone can benefit from getting away. [1] As I write this, I am still feeling the benefits of a trip to South America that I returned from three weeks ago.
While most agree that taking vacations is a good idea, some report that the benefits are short-lived, disappearing quickly after returning to work. Why do some people benefit for longer than others? I think there are several reasons, some of which I’ve read about; others are simply my own experience.
One of the keys begins before you leave. And it’s not just about being up to date with your work. It’s important to communicate with your boss, coworkers, and subordinates before you leave: where do projects stand; what’s expected while you’re away; what should wait until you’re back; and, of course, the degree to which you’re available to be contacted while you’re away.[2]
On that last point, it’s best if you can vacation in a contactless manner. But sometimes that isn’t possible. In that case, plan when to check in or where to be reached. This prevents you from feeling the need (usually a false need) to check your email and voicemail every few hours while you are “getting away” from work.
How you vacation is equally important. While everyone is different, finding what puts you in that happy place is vital. One of the biggest benefits of vacation is stress recovery. So, avoid things that create stress. One thing my wife and I began doing several years ago was identifying a few places where we plan to have dinner before we depart. As people who enjoy food, especially when traveling abroad, we stressed far too much each day about selecting that evening’s dinner spot. Now, we do our research and often have a few dinner reservations already made before boarding our flights.
For many, an active vacation is better for destressing. This is probably due to nothing more than giving us something to focus on to keep us from thinking about work. When I’m hiking up a steep and rocky hill or navigating a river crossing, I don’t have time to think about work. I abandoned “relaxing” vacations years ago because I wasn’t good at keeping my mind from going back to work if I was resting on a beach. So, find out what gets and keeps you from thinking about work.
Which leads to a final point. I used to come back from a great vacation and wasted the first day or two figuring out what needed to be done. Now, I never leave without first preparing my list of what I need to address upon my return.
1 American Psychological Association, “Vacation Time Recharges US Workers, but Positive Effects Vanish Within Days, New Survey Finds,” blog post, June 27, 2018, https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2018/06/vacation-recharges-workers.
2 Cassie Shortsleeve, “How to Take a Relaxing Vacation Without Stressing About Work,” Time, June 4, 2019, https://time.com/5599292/vacation-without-stressing-work/.
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