Truly disconnecting during your time off

June 2024

Many of you have vacations planned for the summer months, with the intention of leaving work behind and enjoying a much-needed break. But do you truly disconnect on your days off or do you maintain a pulse on your work and remain accessible?

My hope is you embrace the former approach. The feeling of getting away and disconnecting from our regular routines can be liberating. We can immerse ourselves more in the present moment, leaving behind deadlines, emails, and responsibilities. It's a chance to embrace the joys of leisure and adventure and give ourselves permission to rest. Taking a break can leave you refreshed, with renewed energy and focus to tackle your work when you return.

If that’s NOT the case for you, it’s something to reflect on. Here are some common reasons why people don’t fully disconnect, and some questions to consider if you recognize yourself in any of these thought patterns:

You feel you will be judged if you fully disconnect

You might believe there is an expectation to always be available and it reflects poorly on your professional image if you aren’t. With technology enabling constant connectivity, it’s common to think that you need to stay plugged in at all times. But unless you’ve received direct feedback that you MUST remain available, why are you giving so much weight to what others might think?

The only real opinion that matters on this is your own. Consider if you are judging YOURSELF for taking much-needed time off. And do you judge others when they disconnect during vacation? You likely grant much more grace and permission to others in this regard, so shift to becoming your own best friend in these instances rather than your worst critic.

You worry something critical might happen while you are away

You may feel that your expertise is indispensable and that you need to be accessible for questions, direction, or decisions. But how likely is it that something catastrophic will happen that others won’t be able to deal with? Assess the probability of a true emergency occurring. Consider if your absence would realistically lead to severe consequences, or if your fears are exaggerated. Use this time as an opportunity to strengthen your trust in your team and to practice letting go of control.

You are concerned about the amount of work waiting for you upon your return

You might think that staying on top of things during your break will prevent a mountain of tasks from piling up. The reality is there will always be more work coming in. Trying to stay ahead constantly can lead to burnout. That’s part of why vacations are so necessary.

When you take a true break, you often gain a fresh perspective, rekindle your motivation, and have new insights and clarity that allow you to be more productive on the tasks that await. Taking a genuine break can rejuvenate you, leading to increased productivity and efficiency upon your return. How might you be perpetuating the cycle that has you so needing a break to begin with?

You don’t want to miss out on anything

You might worry about not being up-to-date with information, decisions, and progress, feeling that you need to stay in the loop even while on break. But what is more important to you: staying connected or fully enjoying your vacation? Consider any underlying needs or desires that contribute to the fear of missing out. How can you reframe your perspective to see your time off as valuable and necessary for your well-being? Shift your mindset to recognize the importance of rest and rejuvenation as critical to your health. Everything else can wait.

Your work defines you or provides you a sense of identity

For some, work is not just a job; it’s a core part of their identity and purpose. When that is the case, disconnecting can make you feel lost. Keeping work going during vacation might feel necessary to maintain that sense of purpose.

But it’s important to reflect on who you are without work. To truly know and appreciate yourself beyond your professional role. Explore other aspects of your life that bring you fulfillment and joy. Lean into those while on vacation to help you develop and nurture other aspects of your identity. You are so much more than your job.

I know it isn’t always easy to disconnect, but my wish for everyone this summer is that you take time off with self-care and downtime to recharge. If you aren’t finding that, reflect on what that might mean and how to create more of what you need. You get to CHOOSE to set and honor some boundaries, delegate tasks while you are away, turn off all work notifications, and reset your thoughts if they drift towards work. Give it a try and notice the impact. You deserve the break.