There’s lots of advice out there about how to disconnect from work and return to the office refreshed. But what’s the right holiday approach for you? Is it better to be completely out of touch? And how can you increase the chances that you’ll come back relaxed and revitalised?
If you care about your work, you’ll make sure to take regular breaks. “You’ll actually get worse at your job if you don’t have intervals of rest amid the stress,” says Scott Edinger, founder of the Edinger Consulting Group. “It’s like working one muscle too hard. If you neglect to rest that muscle, it begins to fatigue and will ultimately weaken.”
And because we are so hyperstimulated all day, every day – whether it’s being bombarded with email at all hours, checking Facebook on our phones at every opportunity, or following round-the-clock news coverage – “we’ve lost even the micro-moments during the day” that give our brains a rest, says Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage. “Our brains never have the bandwidth to actually recharge or rejuvenate.” Here’s how to holiday the right way.
Practice with a mental break every day: If you want to maximise your chances of a restful break, it's critical to "practice" holidaying by shutting off a little each working day. Try turning off your smartphone for an hour in the evening. Or keep the radio off for the first 10 minutes of your morning commute, to reduce a little of the noise in your life.
Plan ahead and define emergency: The week before you leave, take steps to prepare for your absence. It's also critical to explain to your team which situations warrant them contacting you.
Empower your team: Let your team know which responsibilities they need to shoulder. That will not only clear your plate for a few days, but also signal to them that you trust them. Give yourself permission to check in: To check email or not to check email? It's the perennial question. Achor says to let your "personal anxiety level" guide how much you check in. The goal is to separate yourself from work as much as possible, but often a quick scan of your messages can actually dispel fears that the office is falling apart without you, and let you retire back to the pool in peace.
Leave projects behind: It may be tempting to bring a small amount of work with you on the theory you'll get it done on the plane or lounging on the beach. But both Edinger and Achor say that's almost always a bad idea because you'll miss out on the full effect of a vacation. "The productivity of a vacation is you're trying to lower your stress, raise your levels of happiness, and create novelty for the brain," says Achor. "If you finish your vacation without getting those three things because you brought work with you, you actually missed out on the rejuvenating benefits of that time away."
Manage your return: Resist the pressure to dive right back into the fray. "Very few of us just show up and we're at full speed," he says. "The key for Monday morning is not to schedule any meetings." That gives you a few hours in relative peace to get caught up on emails and other work demands. Savor your memories: To keep the positive effects of vacation as long as possible, try to bring part of the holiday back home with you. Make a point to look at your vacation photos regularly after you return, and set aside some time a week later to upload and organize them.
In association with Harvard Business Review
