{"id":37213,"date":"2017-07-24T04:45:29","date_gmt":"2017-07-24T09:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=37213"},"modified":"2017-07-24T04:45:29","modified_gmt":"2017-07-24T09:45:29","slug":"take-a-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/take-a-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"Go Ahead Leaders, Take That Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The days are getting shorter again, but it's not too late to take a few days off before the end of summer. August is often the perfect month to take some time away from work.
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\nYou should consider getting away for a bit because you probably need it. Vacations are vital for rejuvenation, especially for high-achievers.
\nAnd yet people constantly tell me they don\u2019t know how to get time away or what to do with themselves when they get time off. So I\u2019ve put together 7 strategies for how leaders can best plan and enjoy vacations.
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1. Understand the Various Types of Vacations<\/h3>\n

Vacations come in different varieties. There are spiritual pilgrimages, health improvement vacations, change of pace vacations, rest and relaxation vacations, sightseeing vacations, and other kinds of vacations. You can see one longer list here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Choose the Vacation that Makes Sense for You<\/h3>\n

There is no wrong answer, but it\u2019s helpful to know what kind of vacation you want so that you can plan accordingly. Money matters as a consideration. I wouldn\u2019t go into debt to go on a vacation, but that shouldn\u2019t stop you from taking time off.
\nIf you just need a change of pace, a \u201cstaycation\u201d might work for you. Don\u2019t go into the office, don\u2019t commute, ignore all email and other social networks, and just have a good time with family and friends. Maybe read some books<\/a> that you\u2019ve been putting off, barbecue in the backyard, and sleep in.
\nSeveral years ago\u2014when I was still CEO of Thomas Nelson\u2014my family joined me after a business trip to Brazil with a rest and relaxation vacation in the fishing village of Buzios. We hung out there for a week, and it was totally refreshing. We ate fresh fish every day. We got massages. We laid out in the sun. It was fantastic.<\/p>\n

3. Get Caught Up Before You Leave<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m never more productive than I am in the few days before I go on vacation. Even if you have to work late for a few nights before you leave, you\u2019re going to rest better knowing your physical and digital inboxes are empty<\/a> and that there\u2019s not some important task left half-done.<\/p>\n

4. Delegate Authority to Act in Your Absence<\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t have anybody working for you, this may not be important. But if you\u2019re a leader and you have a department or executive assistant or people counting on you for decisions, then you have to set this up.
\nIf you already have a number 2 to delegate that authority to, that\u2019s great. If not, then I suggest you do what I did at Thomas Nelson. I picked someone and sent an email out to the leadership team saying \u201cWhile I\u2019m away, I\u2019ve authorized Joe to make any decisions that need to be made on my behalf. He has my complete confidence. Whatever decisions he makes will have my support when I return.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Set Other People\u2019s Expectations<\/h3>\n

Sending that email is an important part of setting other people\u2019s expectations for what to do at work while you\u2019re on vacation. If you don\u2019t tell people you\u2019re on vacation, they\u2019re not going to know. They\u2019re going to still send you emails or make phone calls, and they\u2019re going to expect a response.
\nYou have to make sure your voicemail and your email notifications are turned on (you know, your out-of-office messages). You have to tell people you\u2019re not going to be checking messages. Then tell them what to do in case of an emergency.
\nYou should also tell them when you\u2019re going to return, and tell them not to expect replies to messages sent while you were on vacation. If it\u2019s not resolved by the time you\u2019re back, they can contact you again about it.<\/p>\n

6. Focus on the Purpose of Your Vacation<\/h3>\n

Focusing on the vacation helps you to be fully present. Don\u2019t think about the office. Don\u2019t think about all the stuff you left undone, which, if you followed the previous step, you didn\u2019t do. Don\u2019t wonder what\u2019s happening in your absence. Don\u2019t think about what you\u2019re going to be doing when you get back. Don\u2019t be planning the future.
\nInstead, really focus on the people you\u2019re with and the purpose for which you went on the vacation to begin with. Enjoy doing something wholly different from your usual workaday routine. This is the whole point of vacations. Miss it, and you\u2019ll miss out.<\/p>\n

7. Block Out a \u201cCatch up Day\u201d for Your Return<\/h3>\n

On the day I come back to work after a vacation, I have no meetings and take no phone calls. Usually, in my out-of-office message, I tell people that I\u2019m coming back to work a day later than the day I come back to town. I don\u2019t lie about it. I say, \u201cI\u2019ll be available on such-and-such a day.\u201d
\nThat gives me some buffer time when I can really<\/em> catch up, where I can process email and other inboxes. Then I can hit the ground running again, feeling both refreshed and totally caught up.
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