Before you hit the road, take off on a plane, or begin your staycay, I would like to share my #1 Rule of Vacation…
Disconnect.
For me, to disconnect is to hit “End Task”.
You know that spinning wheel of death on your computer screen as you wait for a program to load? That annoying signal that the system is not running smoothly and efficiently?
Then you hit Ctrl + Alt + Delete and open your Task Manager. Are you as surprised as I am when you see just how many programs are running in the background? What the hell?! I have one window open. Maybe a Word doc. But all this other crap is running behind the scenes and slowing everything down.
Then I hit End Task. End Task. End.Task.
Suddenly my computer works so much better. No more spinning wheel of death.
That’s how I liken this idea of disconnecting. It’s the ultimate End Task process. You get to free up space from those tasks that take the form of distractions, expectations, and obligations. We often speak of our devices as being a main source of these kinds of tasks.
It certainly can be. Try leaving your phone in your hotel room while you relax by the pool. Bring a camera to capture memories with your family instead of relying on your phone. Leave the TV off. Wear a watch (maybe not the Apple kind). Or forget about time altogether.
Disconnecting can also mean hitting End Task when anxious thoughts and worries run through the background of your mind as you try to relax. Is everything running smoothly at work while I’m gone? What if someone is trying to get in touch with me? Did I get everything done before I left? I’m going to have so much work to catch up on.
How can we hit End Task when this happens? One way is preventing it from happening in the first place. Have peace of mind and open up lots of brain space by preparing before leaving:
- Set expectations. Let everyone know you will be away via email auto-replies, etc.
- Explore and discuss ways to set others up for success in your absence.
- Ensure that your staff is trained up in a way where they feel confident, empowered, and equipped to make decisions.
- Negotiate and plan project completion around your vacation time, as well as the vacation time for others.
- Accept that some things won’t get done. Focus on the most important things and resolve to improve on these practices for each vacation.
Along with practicing the art of disconnecting for an enjoyable vacation, I also invite you to think about all of the creative ways you can connect with yourself.
Hit End Task, be aware and present, breathe deeply, feel the sun on your skin, really taste the delicious food, and…relax.
