Lynn Taylor Consulting

Don’t Make These Mistakes Over Your Holiday Break

The holiday season is upon us and if you’re like many, you have some much-needed time off scheduled. But before you record that out-of-office message and log off your computer, make sure you know how to vacation the right way. How can you go wrong, you ask?

I spoke with Business Insider and shared the most common mistakes professionals make that can sabotage the benefits of vacation:

  • Staying connected 24/7. It can be hard to put work aside when a stream of emails comes through, but back off from the keyboard in order to “refresh” – or your downtime will just bring you down. Set aside certain times to look at those emails, and be disciplined. Don’t be a Work Junkie.
  • Not relaxing. It’s hard not to feel resentful if you’re stuck in an endless text exchange with your boss while the rest of your family is having fun at the beach. Remember, this is your time off from work and the onus is on you to set clear boundaries with colleagues.
  • Feeling guilty. You’re ready to go on your long-approved vacation when your boss throws a tantrum: “I can’t believe you’re going to be out when we’re finalizing this deal.” Time to manage up, noting how everything is under control. Don’t let yourself be guilted for taking time off.
  • Checking in. Contrary to what you might think, the office will not fall apart without you there. Trust your colleagues to pick up the slack.
  • Having no plans. Being lazy and not doing much of anything may make you feel unproductive or as if you squandered your precious time. For most, having some sort of plan is better than being idle for an extended period.
  • Going too far. At the other extreme, don’t go too crazy in your activity level. Overeating, overspending, over-anything will only give you one long New Year’s resolution list based on regrets.
  • Being a hermit. Give yourself a day or two to decompress, but be open to being social after that. Book a lunch date with an old friend, stop by to visit your relatives … or just enjoy the company of others. You’ll not only boost your spirits, but you may also brighten the day of others.

To learn more about getting more out of your days off this holiday season, check out the Business Insider article.