Working on your Vacation

Is it possible to go on ‘vacation’ and completely switch off? If you are like me (sorry), you will check your work email/voicemail during your time off, and respond.

The only time I have been able to switch off completely is if there is no reception or Wi-Fi.

When I have been lucky enough to travel overseas I have made an internal rule to only check my email once in the morning and once in the evening. (I do not have international roaming)

This rule was necessitated by a manager who actually told me to stop responding to emails and enjoy my vacation.

However, when travelling within the States, I somehow still feel ‘obligated’ to respond to work emails and voicemails.

So what do you do, when you are on vacation and have Cell Phone Reception and you continuously hear the beep of a new email coming in? Are you able to switch off?

Rule 1: Make sure you have an out of office message on your email, and any phone number associated with work. (You should if possible have an alternative contact for clientswhile on vacation.)

Options:

• Go somewhere where there is no cell phone reception or Wi-Fi (very difficult these days)
• Switch off your work cell
• Set designated times when you will return calls and answer emails
• Once the battery runs out, do not recharge it
• Do not check work emails or messages until your return from vacation

WHEN YOU ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY, MAKE SURE TO ACTUALLY BE WITH YOUR FAMILY.

Enjoy your vacation!

“As you grow older, you learn a few things. One of them is to actually take the time you've allotted for vacation.” John Battelle

p.s feel free to add your suggestions in the comments