If you’re a full-time employee, you’ve likely been given a certain amount of paid time off as a part of your benefits package. Unfortunately, many professionals struggle to enjoy this benefit because they never disconnect from work truly. Instead, they spend their paid time off checking emails, responding to instant messages, and actively working on upcoming presentations. It’s no wonder so many professionals identify as being affected by burnout.

A major part of maintaining a healthy work-life balance is being able to enjoy your time off. True enjoyment only comes through disconnecting from work. In order to set yourself up to properly disconnect during this time, there are several steps you can take - I’ve broken them down into two categories: planning and executing.

Planning

1. Coordinate with your manager and team as needed. Secure approval for your time off (if required). Also, identify and prepare your backup if you’ll be out for an extended period.

2. Have a clear internal OOO plan. In this plan, be clear with your boundaries. Ex: I will NOT be accessing email during this time.

3. Write out the critical items that must be completed before your departure. This becomes your “hit list” - most of your time should be spent closing these items out so you can break away with confidence. If, for some reason, you’re unable to complete them all, communicate the status to your backup accordingly.

4. Block your calendar with “Focus Time” your first day scheduled back. This ensures you have time to “catch up” before diving head-first into the hustle and bustle of your day. Trust me, your inbox will thank you!

Execution

1. Set your OOO auto-responder. Use this message to communicate how long you’re expected to be out and who senders should contact in your absence.

2. Understand that rest is not a luxury - it’s a necessity. We all need to recharge. When you recognize the importance of time away, you won’t allow anyone or anything to interrupt, especially for non-urgent items.

3. Remove work email and chat channels from your phone. To completely disconnect, you need to cut all main communication channels.

4. Enjoy your time off. Seriously, do things you actually enjoy! The work will still be there when you return.

Next Steps

Are you looking for additional ways to better balance your home life and your work life? Join our community of women to learn how others are tackling this feat!