5 Tips On How To Plan A Work Free Summer Vacation
We can call it a vacation, but it seems that some of us are not really decompressing even when we actually take our paid time off. That’s why I've put together 5 tips on how to ensure your summer vacation is as enjoyable and work-free as possible.
1. Make A Real Commitment On Taking A Vacation
Going through the logistical motions of buying airplane tickets, hotel reservations, and drawing up a basic itinerary doesn’t count. Just because you’ve made plans to not be physically present in the office doesn’t mean you are not mentally and psychologically still wrapped up in your work.
The whole point of paid time off is to rejuvenate and recover. If you’re working on your holiday because you haven’t made the emotional commitment to actually taking a vacation, you aren’t really doing yourself -- or your employer -- any favours in the long run. You simply can’t be your professional best if you don’t take time off. So get into the mindset and buy into the fact that your holiday is supposed to be the nourishing time that brings you back to the workplace as a better, refreshed person.
2. Disconnect From Work
To really feel like you’re truly on vacation, you need to break with your usual habits...starting with work. You can’t enjoy the sun if you’re replying instantly to every email or bringing your files along to the beach! Of course, it’s normal to have trouble disengaging from your job for the first few days, but pretty soon you’ll have forgotten all about it. Resist the urge to check emails or anything from work.
3. Organize Your Vacation In Advance
Consider current projects or your book of business and plan everything ahead of time, even your vacation. But managing this particular project can actually be very simple, especially when you’ve got the right tools. This way you can alert the person or team watching over your accounts/work of anything, in particular, to watch for. Difficult customers or something that has an upcoming deadline for example.
So to make up for lost leisure time the rest of the year and make the most of your few weeks of relaxation, you’ll need to do a bit of planning: plan a paddle-boat outing, make restaurant reservations with friends, organize a hike, etc.
4. Prepare your To-Do List
Vacation reservations: Check. Activities planned: Check. But before you leave, make sure you haven’t forgotten anything! For total peace of mind as you take off on vacation, make your own checklist with all the essential items you need to take care of before you leave. Shut off the water, check your vaccinations, prepare a first-aid kit and renew your passport—list it all out so you don’t forget anything and can leave without a care in the world.
5. Be Selfish and Take Care Of Yourself
You spend the whole year managing projects and taking care of friends and family. But who takes care of you? Three weeks of vacation is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with yourself and give yourself a break.
Take the time to decide what you’d really enjoy doing: a nap in the hammock, a good book to peruse, a walk in the park… To get the most out of your summer, it’s important to slow down and savour the present moment.
