Everyone needs to take time off to relax, rejuvenate and alleviate stress. However, sometimes taking time away from work also can be stressful as you dread the pile of work that will greet you when you return and worry about how co-workers will be affected while you are gone.
Harvard Business Review offers the following tips to help ensure taking a vacation does not cause additional stress.
- Overcommunicate and delegate before you leave. Make a prioritized list of tasks that must be done during your time off and determine a handoff process for each; coordinate with anyone who will be helping while you are gone. Let anyone who might be affected by your absence know how long you will be out and who can help them in the meantime.
- Set an intention. While you are on vacation, are you trying to relax, learn about a new culture or connect with friends and family? Consider your intention as your only job during your time off and allow yourself to unplug from work.
- Be organized. On your first day back from vacation, take the first 30 minutes to make a list of priorities. Then, tackle your to-do list one item at a time.
