Preparing to Disconnect from Work
Vacation time is a precious resource and often one that is not used because of being too busy at work or other excuses. Author of Smooth Landings (2006) and The Power of Dream Trips (2009) Michael MacNair says “Work life balance is the issue of our times. Just because we can stay connected does not mean we can and should. Taking vacation time allows us to perform as workers, parents and spouses much better than those who take none at all.”
Following are four steps Michael has identified for workers and business owners to employ when preparing to disconnect:
- Interval versus endurance lifestyle: Athletes know that the best way to increase speed and strength and the quality of their workouts is to perform a series of sprints versus one long endurance workout. Athletes incorporate rest periods into their training and average citizens must also take time to rest and rejuvenate. Rest to not slow process, rather to make long term progress and actually accelerate. Progress at work with more focus; progress at home with our kids and spouses; and progress for ourselves and our confidence.
- Identify what is a dream trip for you: The words strategy and vacation have never before been linked. We profess an investment in your vacation strategy by evaluating what your best and worst trips were and why, and determining from your travel companions what has to happen over the course of the trip for it to be an amazing experience. Strategize on this and then share this data with a professional who can make sure you are travel to the right destination doing the right things.
- Preparation to turn off work: If we do not communicate well, incorporate procedures into our positions, document what we are doing, and delegate to well trained individuals, we cannot walk away without our internal or external customers paying a price - and this is wrong. If they work to the breaking point and at the last minute walk away, they have to have the phone and laptop with them. If their rest periods are planned in advance they can stay excited knowing the break is coming but they can also prepare and communicate the departure so that work does not come along with them.
- Create a future dream trip portfolio: Take some time to sketch out your plan for the year and even for the next few years out and feel the energy that this will bring. Yes, the Internet allows you to do a lot of this research and planning, but once again if you are sprinting at work you should be looking to delegate this to professionals who will know your dream trip style guide and will make all this happen for you, so that these precious dream vacation moments won’t be squandered.
“Those who plan vacations through the year and sprint to them accomplish more, are happier, and have more fulfilling lives,” according to Michael. “No one has made the argument to their boss that they may be more effective by taking vacation versus hurting or slowing down the organization, but I argue that it is true.”
What steps have you taken to prepare to truly go away?
This is a very appropriate article, Jennifer, for so many people I know. I used to be one of the many that never truly disconnects from the office. My family and I would go on vacation, but I’d constantly be lurking over the many emails where I’d been cc’d, calling in to see “how it’s going” or if there were any “fires that needed put out.” Then of course I’d offer a suggestion or two via email, and before I knew it, I was knee deep into finding solutions to problems at the office. And wasn’t I on vacation? Of course when I returned to the office, it was like I’d never left. Relaxed? No way.
McNair’s article is right on target — just because you CAN stay connected doesn’t mean you should. It would behoove all employees to unplug and give their brains a rest while away. (It’s also quite good for the employees left at the office to find their own way while you’re gone too!)