Labor Day has passed, and summer vacations will have to wait until next year, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait until Thanksgiving for your next day off. Vacation time is a benefit most Americans do not take full advantage of. According to Project: Time Off, an initiative created by the U.S. Travel Association, 40 percent of American workers do not use all their PTO days.
Why is this? Based upon survey results, the association argues that we don’t leave the office for one of two reasons:
- We feel as though no one can do our work while we’re away, thus we believe there will be a mountain of work when we return. If you feel this way, you most likely check in to see when it would be most convenient for your boss, coworkers, and clients for you to leave.
- We believe we are expected to still take care of work while we are out of the office. In fact, 63 percent of business leaders claimed they didn’t unplug their email while on vacation in the survey. If this sounds like you, you may also agree that your company doesn’t encourage you to take time off.
Since when did we decide we are OK with being a no-vacation nation? The mental and physical health benefits should be enough to justify your well-deserved break. Vacation can be anything from a day at home to a trip abroad — you don’t need a fancy plan. Job burnout is not a myth, nor a sign of weakness. Don’t miss out on R&R that may make you more productive and successful at work.
With a few extra steps before you head out of the office, your work can carry on without you and won’t overwhelm you when you return.
Before You Leave
- Let any outside partners know of your vacation at least two weeks in advance, especially if you are a client’s point of contact.
- Clean your home. Clutter invites stress to find its way back to you after a relaxing vacation.
- Plan to give yourself a day to return, before you come back to the office. Allow yourself time to throw in the laundry, exercise, grab groceries, and get a head start on email in the relaxed, quiet setting of your home.
- Delegate your work. It will be taken care of as long as clear, concise direction is given. We use Basecamp to assign to-dos that help us keep each other accountable. Also, Basecamp sends an email reminder to the assigned person, and notifies you when the task has been completed.
- Leave a direct out-of-office response that actually helps the people who write to you. Think about the potential emails you may receive while you are out, and then offer a contact for them to reach out to in your automated response. Do not make any false promises such as, “I will be checking email periodically,” if you won’t.
During Your Vacation
- Try unplugging from work to the best of your ability. This is the time for you to attend to your health, relationships, and hobbies.
- Consider taking time to reflect on your goals. During day-to-day activities, it is hard to take time to yourself to evaluate your long-term aspirations. Ask yourself what you’d like to build your resume with in the next year, who you would like to meet, and what experiences you’d like to try.
When You Return
- Try avoiding any meetings on the first day. You’ll need this time to respond to emails, catch up on any project developments, and ask questions before being prepared to engage in another meeting. A catch-up day does not mean you are behind.
- Organize your emails before you begin responding. I will typically categorize my emails by those that need immediate responses, day-of responses, and messages that can be read during lunch or at home. This way, you can attend to priority items and avoid asking redundant questions.
- Try to keep recounting your vacation stories to a minimum. Consider telling stories in a large group setting (e.g., at lunch), so you won’t need to repeat yourself.
- Coming back to work can feel like you’re looking at Mount Doom if you come back with the expectation that you’ll be busy, stressed, or misinformed. Keep your attitude in check.
Time off is a necessary part of careers that help us to stay focused, motivated, and happy at our jobs. Hurrdat recognized this benefit by taking employees on semi-annual backpack trips. These minivacays allowed us to get to know each other and blow off steam on the mountains or at the lake. By preparing yourself for not only leaving the office, but also returning, you’ll set yourself up to reap the benefits of time off without the vacation hangover.
Hurrdat is a Lincoln, Neb. digital marketing agency specializing in social media and content marketing. The company was founded in 2010 and merged with B² Interactive of Omaha, Neb. in 2014 bringing even more digital marketing specialties to both firms’ clients. Together they provide a full range of social media, SEO, and website development services to both national brands and local clients. The companies employ more than 75 people in Nebraska and have won multiple awards for their business efforts, company culture, and clients’ campaigns.
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