It’s the time of year when everyone’s work calendar starts to fill up with holiday parties, family gatherings, and other get-togethers. But if you’ve been working hard all year, it can be difficult to balance all the demands of work and home during this time of year.
Here are some tips for how to unplug from work during the holidays:
1. Schedule Time Off
Be honest with yourself about how much time you can really take off from work. If you’re going to be away from the office for more than one day at a time (or even just one day), make sure that you confirm with your supervisor and your team that there is coverage, so you don’t end up stressing or worrying during your well-deserved break.
2. Make Time for Fun
Put together an itinerary that includes all of your appointments and commitments over the next few weeks but make sure you leave time for fun. No matter how busy you get, there will always be something fun waiting for you at the end of the day or the week. The holidays are a time to spend with your friends and family. So if you are not making time for a good time, you’ll regret the missed opportunity someday soon.
3. Set Your Out of Office Message
Making sure that your coworkers know not to expect your support during your time off is critical to actually unplugging from work. To do this, set up an out-of-office email message that lets everyone know when your work hours are (and when they end), so they don’t come knocking on your door looking for you. The same goes for messaging apps or other forms of communication. Setting expectations is key to making sure you can unplug without sending your team into a tailspin without you.
4. Set Expectations with Your Boss Ahead of Time
Similar to setting your out-of-office message, you need to set some expectations with your manager. Individuals who are hesitant to set clear boundaries with employers should know that it is, in fact a sign of responsibility and professionalism not to be available while on holiday. Before you go offline, talk with your boss about what your responsibilities will look like while you’re away. If they don’t need anything from you while you’re gone, then tell them there’s no need to worry. Anything that comes up while you’re out can be addressed when you’re back in the office. If something does need to take place, arrange for coverage while you’re out. But the key here is to communicate clearly and let people know what to expect. This way, everyone is clear on if and how to reach out when necessary and what expectations there are around communication while on leave.
For more advice on how to plan for the holiday season, connect with the team at ESGI today.
