With summer here, workers across the country hope to take time off to enjoy some fun in the sun. But as some professionals often realize, coming back to work can be painful. In fact, one in three executives polled by Robert Half said that although they enjoy vacations, they dread the work awaiting their return. An additional 10 percent said they prevent this scenario by rarely taking time off from work.
While you may experience a backlog of projects upon returning to the office, you shouldn't let that deter you from taking vacations altogether. Taking periodic breaks from work -- no matter how important your role or how heavy your workload -- is essential for keeping stress levels in check and burnout at bay.
Here are steps you can take to ensure you're productive instead of panic-stricken when you get back:
1. Plan ahead. You'll avoid scrambling before and after your trip if you start planning in advance. Make a list of items that must be done before you leave, and estimate what your project load will be when you return. By working with your boss, you may be able to delegate some of your assignments to others on your team. Also, do your best to get a jump on projects that are due soon after you get back; nothing can ruin the relaxing effect of a getaway faster than an imminent deadline.
2. Spread the word. You'll alleviate some of your anxiety by letting your business contacts know well in advance that you'll be away. This will enable you to take care of any pressing issues prior to your departure. In addition, make sure you have out-of-office messages for your voice mail and e-mail that include the name and contact information of a colleague who can answer queries in your absence.
3. Prevent technical snafus. More than a few employees have returned to work after a lengthy vacation only to discover that they are unable to log in to their computers. Prevent this from happening to you by changing any soon-to-expire computer passwords before you leave. Also, examine the storage capacity on your e-mail inbox; make sure you have plenty of space in case you receive large attachments while you're away.
4. Take an extra day. If possible, avoid returning from vacation the night before you're due back at work. It's better to come back a day or two early so you have time to unpack, run personal errands and catch up on sleep -- especially if you've traveled to a different time zone. You can even use the extra time to check your voice mail and e-mail messages from home so you're not so overwhelmed when you arrive in the office.
5. Re-orient yourself slowly. Unless there is an urgent phone call or meeting, spend the first few hours at work refreshing your memory about assignments, deadlines and deliverables. Meet with team members to catch up on matters you might have missed while you were away. Once you know where your projects stand, prioritize your tasks and focus on the most critical ones first. Getting back up to speed systematically will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
6. Plan a group vacation update. Your colleagues will likely want to know all about your trip, but even small interruptions from well-meaning work friends can be stressful when you're trying to catch up. Instead of giving each person a full review of your trip, plan a lunch where you can update everyone at once.
Catching a small case of the post-vacation blues is inevitable after a great trip. After all, your work space is never going to compare with the beaches of Hawaii -- or even the serenity of your backyard. Planning a smart "re-entry" strategy before you leave will help ensure you return to the office not only rested and relaxed but also ready to hit the ground running.
By Robert Half International, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.rhi.com/.
While you may experience a backlog of projects upon returning to the office, you shouldn't let that deter you from taking vacations altogether. Taking periodic breaks from work -- no matter how important your role or how heavy your workload -- is essential for keeping stress levels in check and burnout at bay.
Here are steps you can take to ensure you're productive instead of panic-stricken when you get back:
1. Plan ahead. You'll avoid scrambling before and after your trip if you start planning in advance. Make a list of items that must be done before you leave, and estimate what your project load will be when you return. By working with your boss, you may be able to delegate some of your assignments to others on your team. Also, do your best to get a jump on projects that are due soon after you get back; nothing can ruin the relaxing effect of a getaway faster than an imminent deadline.
2. Spread the word. You'll alleviate some of your anxiety by letting your business contacts know well in advance that you'll be away. This will enable you to take care of any pressing issues prior to your departure. In addition, make sure you have out-of-office messages for your voice mail and e-mail that include the name and contact information of a colleague who can answer queries in your absence.
3. Prevent technical snafus. More than a few employees have returned to work after a lengthy vacation only to discover that they are unable to log in to their computers. Prevent this from happening to you by changing any soon-to-expire computer passwords before you leave. Also, examine the storage capacity on your e-mail inbox; make sure you have plenty of space in case you receive large attachments while you're away.
4. Take an extra day. If possible, avoid returning from vacation the night before you're due back at work. It's better to come back a day or two early so you have time to unpack, run personal errands and catch up on sleep -- especially if you've traveled to a different time zone. You can even use the extra time to check your voice mail and e-mail messages from home so you're not so overwhelmed when you arrive in the office.
5. Re-orient yourself slowly. Unless there is an urgent phone call or meeting, spend the first few hours at work refreshing your memory about assignments, deadlines and deliverables. Meet with team members to catch up on matters you might have missed while you were away. Once you know where your projects stand, prioritize your tasks and focus on the most critical ones first. Getting back up to speed systematically will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
6. Plan a group vacation update. Your colleagues will likely want to know all about your trip, but even small interruptions from well-meaning work friends can be stressful when you're trying to catch up. Instead of giving each person a full review of your trip, plan a lunch where you can update everyone at once.
Catching a small case of the post-vacation blues is inevitable after a great trip. After all, your work space is never going to compare with the beaches of Hawaii -- or even the serenity of your backyard. Planning a smart "re-entry" strategy before you leave will help ensure you return to the office not only rested and relaxed but also ready to hit the ground running.
By Robert Half International, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.rhi.com/.
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6 Steps for an Easy Return From Vacation Updated at :
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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