Work hard. Play hard. 
Work hard. Play when I have some time. 
Work hard. Play during the three weeks out of the year I have vacation. 
Work hard. Work during some or most of my vacation. 

The scenarios above are how many people today view work and time away from work. But how do vacation time and work exist together? Should they exist together? This is an important question, especially with smart phones giving our employers a direct line to us during vacation. 

There was a time when vacation meant you were unreachable and couldn’t connect to the office. Times have changed. So how can we recharge our batteries and relax in the 21st century? It’s all a matter of balance.  

External Factors to Balancing Work and Vacation 

Before you leave on vacation, make sure you do the following: 

• Give your boss, co-workers, and clients as much notice as possible. 

• Set expectations with your boss, co-workers. and clients. For example, will you be checking email daily, not at all, or once every three days? Will you be checking your voicemail? If there is an urgent client issue while you are away, what should happen? Will you be traveling with a computer? Will you have internet access? Will you have access to your company emails through your phone? What software will you have access to? 

• Set appropriate out-of-office messages on your email and voicemail. Leave a back-up number, if possible, for a co-worker or your boss so they can respond to questions while you are out. 

It may be clear in your mind how much you intend to work during vacation; but others may have a different idea. Have those conversations before you leave. 

Internal Factors 

With all that said, many individuals will log in and see what is happening, even if they aren’t expected to. You need to set expectations with yourself on how you are going to handle work while you are away. 

• Will you check your email? 
  If so, for what purpose? Some individuals want to stay on top of what is happening and can easily tune out what isn’t critical. Others want to process non-essential emails while they are gone so they don’t return to 1000 emails to sort through at the end of vacation. Others do not want to read any work email. Whatever makes sense for you and your situation, make sure to follow through on it. Set guidelines for yourself. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies on vacation. 

• Monitor your guilt. 
  Some people feel guilty leaving on vacation during the middle of a big project, even if they have given enough notice and set expectations with everyone. To be a productive worker, you need some time away to clear your mind. If you are a person who tends to feel guilty on vacation, give yourself permission to relax. You will return as a more productive employee. 

• Some individuals have no trouble taking vacation, while others struggle. Setting the correct expectations with others as well as yourself can help ease you into vacation. Will setting the correct expectations ensure you are not bothered over your vacation? No. Our work environment doesn’t operate that way all the time. 

Even if you set extremely clear expectations and don’t have access to your work email, you may still get urgent phone calls and requests over your vacation. However, being thoughtful and setting boundaries in advance will help you enjoy that well-deserved nap on the beach.  

Wolfgang Career Coaching is a full-service career transition and career development firm that works with clients across the country to find fulfillment in their careers. Texas Exes members have access to resources and discounts on Wolfgang Career Coaching services. Learn more about Wolfgang Career Coaching here.