Take your vacation, seriously

Everybody likes taking a vacation, but as a society, we’re not very good at it. Americans work more days than our European counterparts yet our productivity is little better than theirs. Why things are the way they are is a subject for a book, not a blog post. I won’t attempt to generalize the many reasons employers ask their employees to work longer hours and more days or why the self employed do it to themselves. I will attempt to spell out what small steps you can take as an employee to make sure you get the most out of the time you are allotted (or that you give yourself). After all, it’s your vacation and for the most part, you’re in control. Aside from what you can or can’t afford.

Three simple rules to recharge

Following three simple rules will help you recharge your brain. Recharging your body is another subject all together, though there is some common ground.

1. Unplug. Remove the temptation to do anything associated with work. I frequently vacation in Canada where the roaming charges prevent me from using my phone or any internet connected device. When you are still in range, the temptation might prove too much, so as much as possible leave the electronics behind, or leave them off. Remember you need a break from your job and your coworkers need a break from you. Maybe you could give the battery or sim card to a friend if you know you’re weak willed.

2. Plan Ahead. Don’t go on vacation or start a Staycation without at least a loose plan of what you’re going to be doing. For staycations, I like to get home improvement projects done. When heading out of town, you obviously want to have the basics planned like where you’re staying and maybe a spot or two to eat, but go a bit beyond that. Is there a festival going on? A concert? A near by amusement park? One big activity for every other day will allow you to also be lazy or spontaneous.

3. Buffer Days. Don’t leave straight from work to the airport. Don’t work the day after a late flight. Give yourself a chance to slowly wind back up after your unwinding. Doing so too quickly can cause unnecessary stress and eliminate the benefits of your hard earned vacation.

The benefits of a complete break

Vacations offer benefits for stress relief, productivity, health and creativity. And it’s easier than ever to find vacations that combine learning, service and fun. Think back on recent interactions with clients and team members and ask yourself when was the last vacation break taken by someone who really moved a project forward? In today’s stimulus-saturated world, doing something that requires a form of mental engagement that’s very different from your day-to-day activities may help to keep the minds of those who work nimble and receptive—key components for fostering insight.

Taking breaks from work isn’t just healthy, it’s productive.