How to have a stress-free holiday...

There’s lots of advice out there about how to disconnect from work and return to the office refreshed. However, what’s the right holiday approach for you? Is it better to be completely out of touch? And how can you increase the chances that you’ll come back relaxed and re-energised?

If you want success in business, you’ll make sure to take regular holidays. ?It is critical we give our brains time to recharge or rejuvenate. Here’s how to maximise the effectiveness of any holiday:

Practice with a mental “holiday” everyday

It’s unrealistic to expect your brain to transition seamlessly into relaxation mode the second your holiday starts. So if you want to maximise your chances of a restful holiday, it’s critical to “practice” holidaying by shutting off a little each working day. ?For example, try turning off your smartphone for an hour in the evening.

Plan ahead

The week before you leave, take steps to prepare for your absence. Let your team and clients know that you will be away, and either pause your projects or ready them for a temporary handover. It’s also critical to explain to your team which situations warrant them contacting you. For example, you might tell them to call if you are at risk of losing a client, or only in the unlikely event the company’s manufacturing facility is about to shut down.

Empower your team

Let your team know which responsibilities they can take on. That will not only clear your plate for a few days, but also signal to them that you trust them. Not surprisingly, employees need to have time away from managers so that they can grow.

It’s ok to check in

To check email or not to check email? It’s the perennial question. My view is that you let your “personal anxiety level” guide how much you check in. The key is to separate yourself from work as much as possible, but often a quick scan of your messages can actually dispel fears that the office is falling apart without you.

Leave projects behind

It may be tempting to bring a small amount of work with you on holiday - a bit of catch up reading, a short report, etc — with the theory you’ll get it done on the plane or lounging on the beach. This is always a bad idea, if you are going to have a great holiday, you’re not going to want to do it, and then it will hang over your head.

Manage your return

Just as you carefully prepare the team for your departure, take a moment to plan for your return to work. A rushed return completely burns away the good effects of the holiday rapidly. Resist the pressure to dive right back into the fray.

Savour your memories

To keep the positive effects of your holiday as long as possible, try to bring part of the holiday back home with you. Make a point to look at your holiday photos regularly, setting aside some time the week you return to upload and organise them.

Think Time

One activity I advocate to my clients is building THINK time into their weekly diary. This is time for you to work 'on' the business by thinking through the answers to questions they typically would not ask on a day-to-day basis. A question to reflect on this week...

What three measures determine whether you have had a good day?

Quote of the week

“Take holidays, go as many places as you can. You can always make money, but you can’t always make memories.” — Anonymous