Do you have hard time unplugging on your vacation?
Well, you are not the only one. Whether you own a business or work for someone else, getting away for 24/7 for a week or two (or even more) has been harder that ever.
But, basically, it all comes down to good organization. Depending on your situation, there are several ways which you can choose to incorporate in your lifestyle in order to have relaxed vacation.
Get a replacement
The best solution, if possible, is to have someone reliable to replace you while you are away. If you have that person, be sure to leave her or him all the necesarry informations and instructions. Do all the work that you can in advance, and leave them only the things that has to be done while you’re away. Also, leave an emergency contact, just in case.
Inform your clients
If there are projects or clients which can not be handled by anyone else, be sure to inform the clients about your absence at least a week ahead. Be sure to inform them about the duration of your vacation and if you will be available for emergencies or is there someone else they can contact for urgent matters.
Set up a smart ‘out-of-office’ reply
Don’t forget to turn on your ‘out-of-office’ reply. You might choose to state only the timeframe in which you will be away, or designate another contact/person for emergencies, or even appoint certain time of day when you’ll be checking your email.
Don’t unplug completely
If you feel that you’re business will suffer while you’re away and that you will spend your days bitting nails, thinking who might be contacting and needing you, simply don’t unplug. It’s completely ok to do what you feel is the best for you and your business. In that case, plan ahead.
Designate the part of the day for work and other part of the day for fun. That way you’ll still be available, just less than in your regular office hours. This might actually make your vacation more enjoyable for you and your family.
Set up ‘check-ins’ and emergency contact
Inform your co-workers if and when will you be checking your e-mails and be available for questions. Also, have some emergency contact in place. It will make your co-workers feel better knowing that they can contact you if something urgent comes up and it will make you feel more relaxed knowing that your co-workers will call you if there is an emergency.
Not enough? Check out the article: 8 Ways to Hold Your Team Accountable
