Get the Most Out of Your Vacation

Now that we're in full swing of the summer season, many of us are planning vacations and time off from work. A common complaint of many workers is that it is often difficult to leave work behind when you're away from the office. Some people bring laptop computers on trips in order to keep on top of the emails and other duties. Other professionals dread actually taking any time off because the thought of returning to such a mountain of work is too stressful.

To help ease the transition of taking vacation-and actually enjoying it-here are some useful tips to consider:

Determine your Work

Set parameters with your supervisor for when you need to be "on call." Your supervisor will let you know what times you are expected to log on or check email and voice mail messages. This way, your supervisor can rest assured that you are on top pf your work, and you can have some peace of mind knowing that you are 100% able to relax and enjoy your time away from the office. Of course, many workers do not have a direct supervisor. If this is your circumstance and you are able to take some time off, let your clients and vendors know when you will be shutting down the office, and when you will return.

No Messages

Especially if you are your own boss or if there is someone else who can take on your responsibilities while you are away, try to set up your email and voicemail with a message stating that you will not be checking messages for a specific period of time. In your place, people can contact someone else, or they need to wait until after you've returned.

Build In Extra Time

Especially if your job is stressful and full of responsibilities, give yourself at least one day of time at home after you've returned from your vacation. This way, you can recover from flights and your days away from home so that you can focus on other household chores, such as unpacking, doing laundry, and going to the grocery store. By including some extra time for yourself after you've returned from a vacation, you won't feel as stressed once you return to the office and your day-to-day work duties.

Establishing Priorities

Oftentimes, people do not place enough importance in taking time off from work to "recharge your batteries." Time off from work is significantly important to help you consider your professional progress, establish new goals, and take stock of what is a priority in your life.

Remember, every year, there is something new in your life. Either you are closer to buying your dream home, you are in a new personal relationship, or you are beginning to find your current career unfulfilling. Taking personal time off from a job is as essential a part of your career growth as putting in extra time to achieve your goals.