Can you ever, truly, switch-off?

The official summer holidays are nearly upon us and the prospect of another bracing week on the Northumberland coast is looming ever closer for me. Wherever your holidays may take you, will you be able to fully switch off and relax or will there always be that nagging feeling that there’s something that needs your attention?

As many of us have been experiencing some holiday time over the last few weeks, we’ve been chatting about how easy it is for us to switch off.  Michelle managed to get away for a week to Italy last month and she admitted it was the first time in 10 years that she fully switched off from work and we suspect she is not alone.  She put it down to her having such an awesome team – and who are we to disagree!

My ability to switch off from work is slightly easier with three small children who manage to demand most of my attention for most of the time but if I’m honest, my mind still manages to occasionally wander to work related thoughts.

However, having been lucky enough to work first-hand with a number of our incredible clients over the past 12 months, I’ve picked up some great suggestions along the way that encourage down-time during my holidays;

• Plan and Delegate: Start by planning your holiday well in advance. Let your colleagues and supervisors know your holiday dates and make sure the essential tasks are delegated or completed beforehand. (Check out our upcoming Art of Delegation workshop)
• Encourage a culture of knowledge sharing: sharing skills and knowledge across an organisation has many benefits including making the business more agile and adaptable. It also means individuals have a better understanding of each other’s roles and so you can cover short term absence more easily.
• Set Clear Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and leisure during your holiday. Tell your colleagues and clients that you will not be available for work-related communication. Turn off work notifications on your phone and resist the urge to check emails or respond to work messages. Don’t forget to put the ‘out of office’ on your email. In fact, do it now – you can often schedule the message in advance.
• Do something for you: Read a book, go for a walk, watch the tide come in. Force yourself to get some peace and quiet. It really is restorative. Yes, of course, plan in the adventures and activities but give yourself some time to breathe and relax.
• Try a digital detox – I know, this is the one everyone rolls their eyes at, but it is good. Really. Honestly. Leave your phone, tablet, laptop switched off, and out of sight. Try it for a day – a whole day, and don’t switch it all back on at bedtime!

We all need holidays to rest and recharge so do all you can to have a real break from the pressures of work. Here at Pro-Development, we may not be able to book your holiday, but we do have loads of experience creating healthy work environments. Give us a call and see how we can help get you and your business ready for the hols.