LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine)- After weeks of hard work, leave can sometimes be necessary, but you don’t get into holiday mode those first days. Choose now for optimal enjoyment with these 10 tips.
1. Plan clearly and in advance
Holiday stress? We’re not participating! A clear, and realistic planning is essential for this. Make sure you list all the tasks that you still have to complete before your leave and spread them over a longer period of time. That way you meet deadlines more easily and experience less stress.
Just before your absence, you tidy up your workplace and dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Well-organized, calm in mind and structure for when you come back: the ideal recipe for a successful time-out.
2. The laptop stays at home
Do you find it difficult to let go of your work? Understandable, but you can never fully relax that way. Therefore, leave your laptop safely stored at home and do not secretly check your email on your phone. It might even be a good idea to just stop syncing it on your smartphone for a while. If you set up a good office , where you pass on a contact person for emergencies, nothing can go wrong. After all, in step one you have already tied up all the loose ends for your period of absence.
3. Choose a good replacement
Are you not quite sure that you got everything in order? Or are you afraid there will be a huge pile of tasks waiting for you when you get back? Then you can engage a colleague who temporarily takes on your responsibilities. You explain the most important matters to this person and show how you normally handle them. Have you created enough clarity? Then you can now leave with peace of mind.
4. Be active and creative
It may not seem like it, but by taking an active walk, cycling or running, or getting creative with painting or drawing, you provide constructive relaxation. Annelies Quaegebeur, career coach and trainer at A-lissome explains: “When you are completely absorbed in an activity that has nothing to do with your job, you will notice that you gain new inspiration. This gives you renewed energy. Write down your plans and ideas in a notebook, so that after your leave you can tune in to the positive feeling you experienced then.”
5. Spontaneity is also allowed
For many people, a job means structure. You stick to specific times and tight schedules. The good news is: on vacation this is not necessary. You don’t have to plan everything strictly, nothing has to be done and everything is allowed. Spontaneous ideas are therefore perfect, so you can do whatever you want every day.
6. What do YOU think is important?
Now that you have some time for yourself (and for your family), it’s time to think about what’s important to you. A nice cuddle with your partner, an extensive breakfast with the children, or finally read that book that you have had in your closet for months.
7. Think about your return
It is smart for most people to schedule a few more days at home if you go out during your leave. Otherwise you will immediately end up in the “I don’t-have-enough-time” stress again and you will be tired before you go back to work. Take some time to clean up, review your mail and recover from any jet lag. Take it easy on those last days off, in other words.
8. In one word: enjoy
The most important thing is that you enjoy your well-deserved vacation. Do fun things, visit special places and choose unique experiences that you will never forget. Only positive effects, explains career coach Annelies Quaegebeur: “By enjoying this freedom, you become more positive and you get new energy. So that after your leave you are fully charged for the new working period.”
9. Sleep, eat, repeat
Sufficient sleep is not only important when you have to go to work. Your body really needs rest, so lie down for a long time every now and then. In addition, try to maintain a regular rhythm and enjoy tasty meals. Every now and then something healthy is of course also important to keep your energy up.
