How to Unplug on Vacation

It’s the phenomenon where our feet are in the sand, but our brain is still in the boardroom. And with WIFI in the most remote areas, we can stay tethered to our workplace even when there’s thousands of miles between us and our office.

When our mental state has logged more miles than our favorite frequent flier program, it’s time to consider having an unplugged vacation.

Studies are finding that vacations are like sleep.  We actually need to take them to rest and recover from the stress of our daily workload and the drudgery of our to do lists.

If the word “vacation” has been translated in your work world from “a time of rest and recreation in a faraway place” into, “a short period of time where you frustrate your family members while you attempt to do your office work in an exotic location”, then read on.

Vacations are opportunities to make memories, have new experiences and connect with loved ones.  They’re also a time to rest and replenish.  A lot of us spend our work weeks substituting deep rest with shots of caffeine. Adrenaline buoys us up as we push our adrenals way past their prime.  But a few nights in the woods or a stroll by the seaside can do wonders for our stress levels.

Here are a few tips to help you fully switch-off from work and recharge on vacation…

1. BE EFFICIENT BEFORE YOU GO
   One refrain I’m hearing from clients is that they have to work on vacation because they don’t get enough done before they leave. If that’s your experience, then clean up your daily work day distractions so that you can feel good about powering down for a few days. Our Mindfulness in the Workplace Course covers a range of mindful practices to help with overwhelm, multi-tasking and time management.

2. COMMUNICATE TO CO-WORKERS AND CLIENTS THAT YOU ARE UNPLUGGING
   Give ample notice that you’ll be unplugging for a certain time period and give people suggestions on who to contact if there’s an emergency.  Set up your autoresponder and, then,  honor the boundaries you’ve just set. Emails beget more emails, so if you’re saying you’re not checking email, stay true to that.

3. GIVE YOURSELF SOME TIME TO UNWIND
   It takes about two days to get into the slower paced groove of a vacation, so don’t cave in and check your email just because you’re feeling restless or bored.  Give yourself a chance to get over the relaxation hump. Do an activity that fully immerses you so that checking in with work is virtually impossible (zip lining, anyone?). If you think you have to work, do your last bit on the airplane ride to your destination, then wait a full two days before deciding if you really need to check in.

4. SET UP A VACATION EMAIL ADDRESS
   If you need to communicate with anyone back home (dog sitters, neighbors, etc.), I use a personal email address and not a work one.  If you’re booking excursions or need to access itineraries, set up a dedicated vacation email so that you’re not tempted to spend too much time in your inbox on unrelated matters.

5. LEAVE YOUR PHONE IN THE HOTEL ROOM
   When we go on vacation, sometimes the urge to just check in quick via my phone is too much of a temptation. Leave phones in the hotel room or just bring one family phone when you are out and about for taking photos, meeting up with friends or for checking in on excursions. I understand that this is a big ask so… maybe you can leave the phone behind at least some of the time.

6. GO ANALOG
   Read a real book – one with pages and everything!  One of my tech savvy team members feels that despite the fact that it’s easier (and lighter) to carry a library of reading material around in her Ipad, it’s a slippery slope back into her inbox. It’s a lot saner for her brain to just read a good story the old fashioned way.

Think all of this unplugged time will negatively affect your productivity? Think again!

There’s a neurological reason behind why some of the best ideas come while you’re in the shower or taking a walk. Wrestling with a challenging work problem that seems to have no solution? Insights come to us when we’re not obsessing over a problem. So grinding away at work isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the best idea is much more likely to come during a swim in a lake or after a snooze in a hammock! Enjoy that vacay and refresh your mind - without technology.