Tips to Peacefully Allow Yourself Time Away

The decision to take time off is key to the long term success of your overall well-being. A healthy and productive life is an achievable goal once you make your well-being a priority. Life has many demands so it’s normal that you may resist taking time away from your responsibilities and obligations. Making excuses is common. We’ve all done it and put the perceived needs of others ahead of our own. We tell ourselves that this isn’t the right time or allow a pseudo-emergency to prevent our plans of taking care of ourselves properly. We even feel justified in our decisions telling ourselves that we’re keeping our earned vacation time for a later date, saying that it’s the busy season and the time isn’t right, or there is too much to do. We even talk ourselves into believing something might happen without us being there in attendance. Do any of these excuses sound like you? When we allow thoughts of too much work or the limitations of financial resources as barriers we are essentially putting our health and well-being on hold for a later date which rarely arrives.

What good is all your hard work if you aren’t willing to enjoy life?

. If after hearing all the benefits of taking time off you still find yourself unable to break free, then the time has come for you to work toward adjusting your mindset and beginning embracing the idea that a real vacation is possible.

Start small by incorporating a series of mini stay-cations in your life. Or you can take an even bigger plunge by preparing months in advance of your vacation so that you are in a good position to effectively unplug while you are away. By preparing ahead of time, you will have the confidence of knowing all is well because you’ve taken the time to cover all bases before you actually take the time off. Believe me, you will be glad you took the time to prepare ahead of time. This is because once you do return from getting some well-deserved rest and relaxation, you will have increased focus and greater productivity. The goal here is to avoid being stressed and worried. You want to be in the position that when you do take time away from your personal business or corporate job, that you can actually enjoy your time away.

Even a few days off could make a big difference. You don’t have to travel far. You can stay local and take advantage of the attractions in your city. Have some fun and take a few minutes now to see how you can make a quick getaway happen. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Visiting a friend who is out of town can give you the reboot you need. Once you get serious and plan some time off, you will be pleasantly surprised how much the excitement and anticipation of your getaway add to your level of happiness. For me, vacation is a special time to spend with my family and friends on the island of Aruba. The Casa Del Mar Resort has turned into our home away from home. The island itself is only about 21 miles and is located in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea. It may be small but it is the perfect place for us to unwind and have fun.

 

Many years ago, I made excuses and delayed taking time off.  When I would take some time off, I would pack an extra suitcase full of work. (LOL). I took my stock charts and had my numbers faxed to me every day I was away.  Needless to say, that time away I was easily distracted and didn’t know how to relax fully.  Yes, there were times I was enjoying fun in the sun, but the downside is that I was not fully engaged. Sometimes I found myself returning from vacation needing another vacation.

Thankfully I don’t do any of that now and can relax while I go away, with the peace of mind knowing that all will be well when I return. What has helped me to become so confident in relaxing while on vacation, was in developing a well thought out and a clear plan before going away. Before I would struggle with pre-vacation anxiety and stress, but now I have mastered a plan that allows me to leave those feelings behind. My plan of action has also increased the trust of my coworkers which has increased the ability for me to fully enjoy my time away.  It’s important to start planning early, so you will be confident and not have to worry about your job or business while you are on vacation.  This approach is much better than not taking a vacation. If I can make it work, I know that YOU can too. Use the following tips to help organize and assist you in making your next vacation worry and stress-free.

 

 

Tips to Peacefully Allow Yourself Time Away

Plan in Advance:

Having enough trust that all will be well as you delegate responsibilities is sometimes challenging.   This was especially difficult for me since I am such a hands-on person. What helped me the most was understanding that with enough time I could set up a plan that would fit my unique needs and tweak along the way. What I discovered is that you first develop a relationship with your team or an associate, and trust them to cover your tasks while you’re away.  Leave a list of what is pending, and a quick reference of what you think is needed to be watched closely. Create a task manual or spreadsheet as a point of reference that has instructions, daily routines, including phone numbers and passwords. Review the plan with your team or associate before you go away and go over with them on what may be needed to be done when certain situations may occur.

By following these steps you will know decisions while your away will be made as if you made them yourself.  This will help you relax. It’s also a good idea to remember to say “Thank You’ and adequately show your appreciation before you leave and upon your return. Remember to also check in with your clients to see if they have any needs or questions in advance of your vacation. This also serves as a great time to let them know who to contact while you’re gone. Your clients will definitely appreciate your call, and you will also discover that many will be happy to hear you are taking some well deserved time off to rejuvenate and relax.

Communication Strategy:

Being connected and easily accessible is one true benefit of technology. Fortunately most times it’s not necessary for you to be on call or available day and night when on vacation. Taking your business with you when you travel will not work for everyone. When you travel you can bring a laptop, an iPad, or your cell phone may be sufficient. It’s your decision whether to unplug or not. When traveling, I monitor the stock market periodically through the day by listening to people talk around the pool or with a quick look at CNBC on the TV. I mostly communicate with my team by email but I do make sure to upgrade to an international phone plan while away. This gives me peace of mind, and also allows me the ability to access social media applications such as Facebook audio or I message. The right equipment may give you a sense of comfort and security as it does for me. I find for short trips my phone is all I need, for longer trips I bring my laptop. My husband prefers his IPad.

Your chances of experiencing worry-free time off are much improved when you establish clear channels of communication with your team if an important issue arises. It’s best for your team to be left with a clear understanding of what constitutes as an emergency for you to be contacted while you’re on vacation. Make your expectations clear by meeting with your team and then one on one with the person who is going to be backing you up to see what questions or concerns they may have.

Have a backup plan:

The best advice I can give you about having a backup plan is to start early. You can send your files that you might need to your email address, or open a Dropbox account for easy access.  If you are little more computer savvy, back up your files to the cloud or to a small flash drive.  What’s great about a flash drive is that you have access to your files from any computer without the need for an Internet connection.

Give Yourself Quiet Time:

It’s easy to pack a full schedule while you are away on vacation. There is so much to see, taste, and experience. Give yourself permission to step away from a hustle and bustle of a vacation routine.  Make it a priority to relax and have fun while you’re on your vacation. You work hard and vacation is the perfect time for you to rejuvenate your brain and rest your body.  Do something you have never done before by treating yourself to a new experience. Not only will the new experience give you something fun to talk about upon return, but you will see how much joy it will give you.

I know you have many responsibilities, and it isn’t always easy to stop and get away. Before you take off, remind yourself that it’s OK for you to leave worry-free, because you took the time to prepare your plan. Commit to enjoying time with your family and friends. When you prepare in advance, create clear communication, institute a backup plan and incorporate a commitment of trust, you will find that the return home will be much more enjoyable.   Enjoy enough quiet time so you can clear your mind and return refreshed, rejuvenated, focused upon your return. Become committed to your well-being. You deserve the time away. Act now, schedule your time off.

 

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