How to Achieve Vacation Mode

Do you want to be in your vacation era? Picture this: no emails, no Slack pings, the sun kissing your skin, and the only decision you have to make is whether to order another mudslide or nap by the pool. Sure, this all sounds like luxury but as the TAG ops team, we know it makes a real impact on the employee experience:

• Being able to fully unplug allows you to rest and restore so you can come back as your ideal self.
• Empowering your team to do things without you promotes trust and allows growth in others.
• In the end we are all humans, and work is part of life but it is not your life.

Let’s talk about how to get you on that plane, boat, train, ship…or in that car! 

It’s all in the planning. That’s right, I’m talking about out-of-office prep. And this starts before you make your request. 

1. Ask for your vacation in advance if possible.

This might matter more or less depending on the size of your team, available resources, and the culture of your company. But always be sensitive to the rest of your team and offer a conversation. Those relationships will matter for longer than your vacation glow lasts. If you are a total newbie to this, it also helps to make sure your plans are achievable before making your request, so check flights and clear up details in the group chat prior to submitting your PTO request.

2. Time your vacation well.

For example, if you work in ecommerce, Q4 might not be a great time to take off for Japan for two weeks. Similarly, if you’ve just started a new gig, that might not be a great time to take a vacation. (However, if you already have one planned as you are accepting a new role, just tell your recruiter or hiring manager before you accept your offer and as soon as the start date becomes relevant. These things can be worked out. )

3. Put together an OOO plan. 

Make an out of office plan and designate a person who can get in touch with you via a specific medium if necessary, i.e. my direct supervisor will reach out to me via text under the following circumstances. Ideally this isn’t a concern because you’ve designated a point person for each of your responsibilities, and you’ve debriefed them well, but under certain circumstances and with certain working styles this helps.  

Vacation mode, activate!

Now that we’ve covered the prep work, let’s talk about how to fully dive into vacation mode.

If you’re one to check Slack or email when away, switch into vacation mode by unplugging from all company tech. Got Slack on your phone? Take it off. That way you won’t be tempted to check it. Your OOO plan says how to get a hold of you if need be. Similarly, if work email is coming in on your phone or email, toggle that off for now. Feel free to say one last farewell on Slack or your company messaging system if that helps you or is required by your employer. 

Banish thoughts about work. It’ll be there when you get back, but that Hawaiian sunset will not. A few minutes of meditation or a deep breath before heading out the door can signal to your brain that work is in the past, and relaxation is in the present. If you’re into mindfulness, set an intention for the trip. What are you hoping to get out of it? How do you want to spend your time? If you need some way to channel your professional side during vacation mode, turn those meeting agenda skills into a vacation outline. Be the project manager or technical architect of your experience.

Prioritize the people around you instead of the ones who you left back at the office or online. Think of it like making a commitment to your family or friends. Verbalize it if you need accountability by asking others to help you with your plans to shift your focus from work. Have them call you out if you talk about it, or talk out your concerns with you so that you can put them in your suitcase. Or just mentally shift your focus to those around you. Remember that your life is so much more than just the work that you do. 

It's your right to recharge 

If you’re having a hard time taking vacation, and it’s not for lack of any of the prep or intentionality mentioned above, then it’s time to take a good hard look at your employment relationship and make sure you’re getting out what you put into it. Remember, a good employer gives you industry-leading time off, but a great one encourages you to use it.