August 2, 2023
Team Cultiveit
Vacations can be a dream. Returning from vacation can be a nightmare.
August is a time when many employees are taking advantage of their PTO. What happens when they come back? Many employees face piled-up workloads and the dreaded feeling of being back to the same old routine. But fear not! With the right approach and planning, you can transition smoothly back from vacation mode. In this blog post, we will share five top tips to make coming back from vacation a breeze, backed by expert advice and research.
1. 📝 Create a Pre-Vacation and Post-Vacation Checklist Before leaving for your vacation, create a detailed checklist to ensure nothing important gets overlooked. This list should include tasks such as notifying colleagues and clients about your absence, setting up auto-responders for emails, and organizing essential documents. Similarly, create a post-vacation checklist that outlines tasks you need to accomplish upon your return. This way, you can systematically handle pending responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed. Here are some examples:
Pre-Vacation Checklist
Post-Vacation Checklist
2. 🗓️ Give yourself a buffer day We’re all trying to optimize everything. Sometimes it feels like getting to spend ONE EXTRA DAY in an exciting place is worth it. But is it? Consider your levels of jetlag, laundry, and other to-dos. Would you feel more relaxed having a day at home before jumping back into work? If so, take it! This will allow you to catch up on sleep, buy groceries and mentally prepare for the days ahead.More info on why this helps here.
3. 💌 Set up your OOO coverage with colleagues. One of the biggest mistakes you can make before going OOO is missing the chance to have clear conversations with your colleagues about who will cover what in your absence. If you are in sales or other external-facing work, this is especially important. If possible, delegate tasks before your vacation to capable colleagues. Having someone cover essential responsibilities in your absence will ensure things keep running smoothly.
Think about your most important stakeholders, projects and channels you manage. Ask a relevant person to cover for you on those while you’re out. Counterintuitively, research from Harvard Business School shows that doing this will actually INCREASE customer satisfaction and team satisfaction, since customers get access to more points of contact and teams feel less siloed. Are you responsible for answering prospect emails? Forward those emails to a peer on your team and loop them in on what they should do. Do you have a big meeting scheduled during your OOO? Talk to the facilitator and provide feedback in advance. Do you have a big project you’re working on that can’t slip a week for your vacation? Let your colleagues know the must-do tasks and set them up for success. Frame this as a stretch opportunity for your colleagues, vs. it being a burden. When they go OOO, offer to do the same for them. If this feels uncomfortable to you, imagine how uncomfortable you will be having to open your laptop at the beach.
4. 📬 Give yourself time to tackle your inbox strategically. The influx of emails and messages after a vacation can be intimidating. To manage this efficiently, begin by skimming through your inbox to identify critical messages. Prioritize urgent matters and respond promptly to them. For non-urgent emails, consider using email management tools that sort and categorize messages automatically. This approach will help you stay organized and avoid feeling overwhelmed. If your workplace allows, block your calendar for the first 1-3 days after coming back from PTO.
Vacations are some of the most memorable experiences of our lifetimes. Making space to fully enjoy them and be fully present can make it all the more special. Effective planning can help you make the most of your work recovery, so that you can come back feeling truly refreshed. Don’t forget to take some time to reflect on your vacation experience and the positive moments you've had. Reliving these memories will keep you in a positive frame of mind, making the post-vacation transition smoother. Consider sharing your experiences with friends and family, which can enhance the positive emotions associated with your time away.
Coming back from vacation doesn't have to be stressful and overwhelming. By following these five tips, you can ensure a seamless transition and maintain the rejuvenated feeling from your vacation.
Are you interested in learning more about how optimizing work demands and work recovery can improve retention and employee engagement in your workplace? Contact us at hello@cultiveit.io or book a meeting with us here to learn about our offerings!
