We have all heard about the benefits of unplugging when we head out on vacation. With the help of Wi-Fi, the smart phone and laptops that virtually tie us to the office, countless studies have been published urging people to power off when on vacation. Being able to go away without the worry of what is happening at work is the best way to get a little R&R. But, unfortunately, some of us just can’t quite wrap our heads around staying completely unplugged while on vacation. Is work keeping you from enjoying your vacation? Do you unplug on vacation?
New research from the 4th annual 2018 Alamo Rent A Car Family Vacation Survey shows:
- 59% of workers say they put pressure on themselves to work during family vacations; most (57 percent) say they do this because they don’t want to come back to a mountain of work
- 51% say they feel guilty for taking time off to go on a vacation because their coworkers have to take over their job duties (THIS IS 100% me)
- Significantly fewer workers say they prefer to “completely unplug” from work while on a family vacation compared to last year’s results (37% in 2018 vs. 53% in 2017)
You can read more about the study’s surprising findings and what they mean for travelers here.
5 Ways To Unplug On Vacation
No matter how you slice it, we all need to reap the benefits of unplugging to get some true rest and relaxation. Here are some of the ways that we like to unplug on vacation.
Turn Off Push Notifications
This one is hard – I know! But you will be so happy when you do it. You will be much less tempted to keep checking social media/emails/chat groups if there is nothing drawing your attention to it.
Phone Stacking
I did this when we went on a friend trip to Costa Rica last year. It is so easy to pull out your phone at dinner to check on “one little thing” and check out of the group completely. The next time you are all together – at brunch, playing a game or any place where the focus should be on the group — suggest that everyone places their phones in one stack, where they’ll stay until the event is done.
Set Work Times
Maybe you can live without social media, but your work email triggers anxiety. If ignoring it is going to stress you out even more and cause you to not enjoy your vacation, set aside a time each day to check in on work – for a short time only. Fifteen minutes each morning and evening is enough to check for fires and respond as needed. Set your designated “work time” both before and after people are in the office so that you don’t find yourself stuck in an ongoing email thread going back and forth. You will have time for that when you get back to work.
Set Up An OOO
Setting up an out of office (OOO) automated message is the best way to cut down on getting sucked into unnecessary emails while traveling. Let them know that you may not review all the messages you receive in your absence, and that they should email you again after you return if they need a reply. Provide another way for them to address their issue while you are gone, such as contacting your assistant or colleague. Nine times out of 10, the issue can be taken care of before you are even back in the office without disturbing your vacation.
Only Pack Personal Devices
The best way to unplug on vacation is to separate work from play. I know it might be hard to do, but leave your work phone & computer… at work! If your devices are personal and work in one, set up a separate user profile and account on your computer so that you are not logged into work business while you vacation.
No matter how you do it, if you can unplug on vacation you will have a more relaxing and enjoyable time. How do you unplug on vacation?
