vacation do’s and don’ts

It’s time for my annual “Vacation Do’s and Don’ts.” Many of you will be going on vacation soon, and I’d like to make sure your vacation counts! Taking time for yourself—and your family—is key to helping you Do What You Do Better.

I’ve noticed that many people don’t really go on vacation. Instead, they just relocate their offices to their vacation destinations. Technology makes this so easy to do! But this office-away-from-the-office takes precious time away from our families; each time we “check in with the office,” we check out of our vacation.

To help you get the most out of your next vacation, I offer these cautionary Don’ts followed by some worthwhile Do’s.

7 Vacation Don’ts

1. Don’t check voice mail or email while you’re away. Let people know you will be gone and unavailable.
2. Don’t “check in” with the office to see how things are going—you’ll be pulled into something. If they need you badly enough, they’ll find you.
3. Don’t take client or prospect files with you on vacation. Leave it all behind.
4. Don’t take your work laptop with client or employee information on it. (I take an old laptop with Word for my journaling and games for our children.)
5. Don’t encourage clients to call you if they have a problem. Use this opportunity to let the client know that the organization is bigger than just you and that you do have value-add other than yourself.
6. Don’t become the project manager if there is a problem that requires your input. Understand the problem, give instructions and ask for status reports. If a problem was big enough to bubble up to you, unfortunately, you probably will need to stay on it. But you don’t have to do the work.
7. Don’t mentally move the office to your vacation destination. Doing so will cause internal anxiety for you and external stresses amongst those on vacation with you.

 7 Vacation Do’s

1. Do contact your “core” clients and valued relationships the week before you leave to let them know you will be gone. Give them an alternate contact in case they need help, and see if there is anything you can do for them before you go out of town.
2. Do activate your “Out of the Office” email message. Offer alternative contacts, if appropriate, and include the dates you will be out of the office and when you will return to work.
3. Do update your voice mail message with the same information that you included on your “Out of the Office” email message.
4. Do give instructions to your backup, administrative person or “temp” on how to handle your calls.
5. Do take a notepad or journal with you on vacation. Write down the ideas, dreams and solutions that will allow you to reach your goals—long-term and short-term.
6. Do reflect on where you stand with Family and the other 7 F’s of True Success: Fundamentals (of work), Finances, Faith, Fitness, Fun and Fusion (the balance of all this).
7. And finally, do relax and have fun. This is your downtime; you’ve earned it! Making the most of it is an important way to be authentic (and kind) to yourself.

 A joyful, peaceful, fun and memorable vacation requires a plan. Make plans now, and then go have fun!