Make sure your vacation is actually restful
How likely are you to take vacation? To actually block the time to take time off, away from your work, and take a break?
Vacations, particularly those involving travel, aren’t accessible to everyone.
Finances, job insecurity, family situations, health conditions - these can all impact our ability to step away from work and our normal environments.
But rest is our birthright.
So how can we, in whatever circumstances are available to us, take our birthright time to rest, digest, and reflect?
Strategies for a restorative vacation
Block your calendar. Too often, I see entrepreneurs wait for the “right time”, a “slower time” to take vacation and then end up just working through. A few months out at minimum, actually block out your calendar. We need time away to reflect and play, even if we don't physically travel. Consider the projects you have coming up, but block your calendar so you (nor anyone else) fill the time with commitments.
Plan your coverage. Do you know what needs to happen in your business while you are out? Do you need to train someone else to handle deliverables, which means you need the person identified and trained on your to-be-written SOPs (standard operating procedures)? Can you pre-schedule email newsletters and social media? Can you accelerate client deliverables to be finished or handed off before you go?
Slow down. Too often, we cram our vacation time full of activity or spend it on our devices. Use the time away to slow down. Take space. Set aside the phone and be present in the moment. The dopamine distractions will be there when you get back.
Account for re-entry. While you’re gone, three things happen.
You get out of your routine and are more likely to get some “downloads”.
You travel and come back depleted from the travel.
Email and life admin piles up.
So do yourself a favor and plan for re-entry. Clean your inbox and your house before you go. Don’t schedule important meetings or a heavy day the first day or two you get back. And be gentle with yourself as you ease back into routine. Make space and time for reflecting and journaling on what transpired.