How to Actually Unplug When on Vacation

How to Actually Unplug When on Vacation

Can’t resist the temptation to check email or Slack while on vacation? You’re not alone - according to Dominic Harkness, Account Executive at Nilo Health, around 73% of people in 2020 chose to work during their time off.

So how do you switch off from work when you’re on vacation?

Set up transition days where your only focus is to wrap up work the day before leaving and catch up on what you missed on the day you come back. Here’s how:

🎁 Create a list of key projects and tasks

You might want to check on work because you’re worried about leaving your team in the lurch. To make sure nothing slips through the cracks:

• Make a list the projects you’ll hand over • Write down the progress you expect to make for each one and the next steps • Identify owners for each project

📂 Block time out to handover work

Schedule at least a day before you leave for vacation, where your only job is to handover work.

• Send over briefings in advance and tell your team to come back with questions • Ask proactive questions like: “What will help you reach this goal?” and “What will prevent you?” • Hold an “office hours” in your calendar with a video link and encourage people to drop-in with any questions or concerns

📅 Organize catch-ups in advance

Before you leave, set up meetings for each project for the day you return and invite everyone involved. In these meetings, focus on:

• Top milestones, decisions and learnings you missed • Upcoming plans and next steps • What you can do now to best support ongoing tasks and decisions

Put this in the agenda, so that your team can prepare.

🔋 Come back refreshed

Truly unplugging on vacation can be difficult, especially if you’re the type of person who likes to be in the loop and in control of your work (don’t we all!). But with enough preparation beforehand, you can increase the chance for a work-free vacation and come back refreshed and recharged!