Vacation should be that ultimate escape where you leave the office behind, ignore emails, enjoy cocktails on the beach, hike up a mountain or explore a museum. But let’s be real: Sometimes we’re balancing spreadsheets with our sunblock or taking conference calls from a café halfway around the world.
2 Pro Tips for Working On Vacation
- Stick to the schedule you set and communicated to your colleagues. Engaging outside your set times sends the message that you’re always available.
- Set up a non-email communication touch point with your team to get info about pressing situations without checking email.
As much as we’d love to totally unplug, sometimes a looming deadline or a high-maintenance client demands our attention. Don’t worry. With a few smart strategies, you can get your work done and still enjoy some well-deserved relaxation.
Plan Your Schedule Before the Vacation
If you need to work while on vacation, plan your schedule before you take off. Be realistic about what needs to be done, allocate specific condensed blocks of time for work and consider what tasks others can do. Delegating allows you to focus on your top priorities, work efficiently and ensure you have plenty of time left to enjoy your time off.
After making your plan, inform your colleagues and clients of your availability during your vacation. Be very clear with them and yourself about when you’ll be checking emails or joining calls. Setting boundaries is essential to preserve your personal time.
Work in the Morning or Late at Night
Consider starting your day an hour or two before your travel companions wake up. The quiet, serene mornings can be incredibly productive, so you can free up the rest of your day for any adventures and relaxation you’ve planned.
If you’re a night owl, try to carve out a few hours after dinner instead of first thing in the morning. Working while everyone else is winding down from the day’s activities minimizes the impact on your vacation while allowing you to stay on top of your responsibilities. Additionally, use downtime like long flights, car rides or train trips to catch up on your work and free up more time to enjoy your destination.
Do what works best for you. You’re on vacation, after all.
Set Up the Ideal Vacation Workspace
The best part of working remotely is that you can do it from anywhere, but remember that not all anywheres are equally conducive to productivity. Spreadsheets are decidedly less enjoyable when merged with the risk of dropping your laptop from your pool float.
Avoid settling into work in places where you’ll be distracted. Instead, find a location that stimulates focus, like a quiet corner in a café, a peaceful library or a balcony with a view. Whatever location you settle on, ensure you find a spot offering reliable internet access and a setting that is still a step up from your everyday workplace.
Make Liberal Use of Tech Tools
We often create an email auto-response before heading off for some downtime, something like, “I am currently off the grid, enjoying time with family and friends. All emails will be answered upon my return to the office.” We set our intentions and put them into the world in writing, but we still check our email every 15 minutes.
Technology can be a double-edged sword on vacation. It enables remote work but can also tether you to your job 24/7 if you aren’t careful with your time management.
Vacation is not the time to tackle new technology, so stick with productivity apps that help you stay organized and efficient at home. As mentioned earlier, set specific times to check and respond to emails and use tools like Do Not Disturb to silence unnecessary notifications.
Set Realistic Goals and Embrace Flexibility
While on vacation, be realistic about the work you’ll get done. Vacation work sessions won’t be as productive as regular workdays, so adjust your goals accordingly.
Prioritize the tasks that need your attention and save the bigger projects for when you’re back in full work mode. Keep in touch with your team or clients but set boundaries by letting them know when you’ll be available and when you’ll be off the grid. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings, frustrations and delays while ensuring everyone’s expectations are aligned.
If a spontaneous opportunity for adventure arises, take it. You can always reschedule your work around it.
Even the best-laid plans can get off track, especially on vacation, so be prepared to adapt when things don’t go as you expected. If a spontaneous opportunity for adventure arises, take it. You can always reschedule your work around it. Remember, communication is key to successfully balancing vacation and work.
Prioritize Self Care
The primary goal of a vacation is to recharge and rejuvenate, so don’t sacrifice too much of your relaxation time. Practice self care, get plenty of rest and enjoy your surroundings.
After finishing a work session, reward yourself with something fun or relaxing. Try a dip in the pool or a scenic hike, or indulge in a tasty treat from that local bakery you discovered on social media. These rewards can help you power through your to-do list faster.
A final thought: As you consider your workload and what might come up on your trip, look for opportunities to delegate or have a team member get things started so you only need to step in at the end. As leaders and managers, your absence is an excellent chance for your team to show you what they can do. When possible, let them have that opportunity.
Working on vacation isn’t ideal, but it doesn’t have to ruin your trip. With the right strategy, you can handle your job responsibilities and still maximize your downtime. Cheers to a productive and enjoyable working vacation!
