NYC Professional Office Organizer’s Tips for Working in Work Time on Vacation
As a solopreneur or the head of a small business, where much of the responsibility falls on your shoulders, the idea of taking any time off from work might feel impossible. You aren’t the only one who feels this way! That’s why many people end up loading up their laptop with plans to work from their vacation destination. Though this NYC Professional Office Organizer suggests you try and unplug so you can relax as much as possible, here are some tips to help you get work done while on vacation – leaving plenty of time to enjoy your trip.
Schedule specific work time. If you aren’t scheduling time to dedicate towards work, you’ll find it eating up other parts of your day. Decide on a small time block that you plan on working each day, and stick to only that timeframe. Don’t schedule activities during those blocks, so you aren’t worried about missing anything. Before leaving the office, inform your team the hours you plan to work, so they know when to expect to hear from you. This will make it easier for them to stay in touch and not bother you during the rest of the day.
Set technology boundaries. It can be so easy to peruse social media or start reading through emails when you find yourself with some downtime. Set some boundaries. When you are done working for the day, put your laptop away. Ideally, put it back into your suitcase or bag, and only pull it out during your dedicated work time blocks. Turn off notifications on your phone or tablet, so you aren’t alerted every time an email comes in. Set calls to go to voicemail.
Don’t overcommit. Though you plan to work for a few hours during your vacation, it’s not the time to take on a new large project that will require lots of research and manpower. Save those types of projects for when you get back to the office. Instead, focus on the smaller, everyday tasks during your vacation. Delegate bigger tasks to coworkers, and use your work time to oversee things and follow up on emails.
Be prepared for problems. Depending on where you are vacationing, there may be issues with being able to work. If you are traveling to a foreign country, remember to pack adapters for your plugs, and appropriate extension cords. If you are traveling somewhere more remote, you may want to check on what the internet connection is like before you leave the office. If finding wifi isn’t possible, you need to let your coworkers and team know ahead of time. Locate coffee shops or other co-working locations that may provide wifi in your area.
Though these time management tips will help you to keep work and relaxation separate during your next vacation, it’s still ideal to really allow yourself some time away. We all need time away from our daily routines that we can spend with friends and family. Take that time, and don’t feel bad about it! When you head back to the office, and are ready for some more hands on organizing strategies, reach out to this NYC Professional Office Organizer.