A client of mine, “Steve,” hadn’t taken a true vacation in over 10 years. Sure, he had traveled with his family. But as a senior operations executive, he always felt he had to remain connected because inevitably something would come up while he was laying on a lounge chair somewhere far from the office. So, he checked his emails every morning and evening, took calls as necessary, and worked his “vacation” around work — that is, until he burned out. “I came back to the same treadmill without recharging. My energy level just kept dropping with each missed vacation, and then I hit rock bottom.” He noticed he could barely get out of bed, was dreading Monday mornings, and had no patience with his kids. “I didn’t like who I was or how I was with my family or at work.”
Set These 5 Boundaries Before You Go on Vacation
Firm but professional steps that will let you totally unplug.
May 19, 2023
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Summary.
Disconnecting from work while on vacation sounds a lot easier than it actually is. Some companies’ cultures may expect you to stay connected, respond to emails, or attend meetings to keep the business moving forward. Yet research and commentary dating back to the 1910s shows that taking vacations — as in, completely disconnecting from work — is critical to lowering burnout, increasing energy and engagement, and improving overall health and well-being, which in turn will lead to more consistent productivity. So, how do you detach from work during your vacation to achieve all these benefits? The author shares five tips to set firm boundaries in a professional way.