How do you take a real holiday?

Even when I take a few days off, I find myself checking all work emails/calls/slack to ensure I haven't missed anything. This doesn't help me recharge as the anxiety of something happening while i'm gone is still there. What are your secrets? How do you handle it?

8
funcoupons
WR Officer
3
👑
Delete the work email/Slack from your phone so checking them isn't easy. If you have a work laptop, put it away out of sight and command yourself to stay away from it from the duration of your vacation. 

Remember that we aren't brain surgeons or police officers, there is no "emergency" in sales. Nobody is losing their life because you didn't answer a work call on vacation.

Just ensure you have your out of office email/voicemail on and there's someone in your company designated to cover for you in the rare case that something urgent comes up.


SDMHGWarrior
Tycoon
1
CEO
You have to force yourself to shut down.  Turn off notifications. Be self-disciplined.  
snazzy
Praised Answer
0
AE
Type A personalities "shutting down"- very good advice, but something I've always struggled with. If you've found the secret, you must share! 
sebs
Politicker
1
BDR
I try to keep my phone/computer away from me when I take a vacation. Gives you a bit of anxiety at first but it feels real good
ATLSalesQueen
Contributor
1
Sales Consultant
By just forcing myself. I don’t let myself bring my computer, I turn on my out of office with who they can call and that I will have no availability, I put my PTO dates in my signature a month leading to my time out and then I just do not answer. 

As someone else said, our positions are not life or death and it will be there when you get back. When I have worked on vacations before, my clients have even stated that I shouldn’t have called them back and that I should be unplugging. 
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
1
Senior Account Executive
A solid auto reply with detailed delegation on who will handle or answer what with their contacts after you align with you colleagues. 

Have a solid phone with you like Galaxy Note 10 and beyond or flip when travelling incase anything needs your personal touch.

Works very well for me.

I must travel on my holidays or else it is not a holiday. Usually i try to go somewhere in Europe, East Africa or the USA. 
Trinity
WR Officer
0
BusDev
Your company is going to survive without you. I know it's hard to disengage (and it will probably take at least 2-3 days to get the hang of it), but you need to recharge, so give yourself permission to do so. 
snazzy
Praised Answer
0
AE
It is an internal struggle. If everything survives without me, then am I as valuable to the company?
Trinity
WR Officer
1
BusDev
I understand as I was in the same situation. Can you turn on your OOO at least then there's no expectation that you will get back to someone right away. You can have your VP/Director send you a text if it's extremely urgent.
Also if it will make you feel better then can block a time first thing in the morning as when you check your emails (maybe max 30 mins-1hr) but don't check it again until the following day. 
SlanginSaaS
Opinionated
0
Strategic Account Executive
Fully disconnect. turn off notifications and if you know that you will still be itching to check email/slack/etc. delete for apps while on vacation. If you don't don't do that, you won't actually be able to recharge and come back from vacation ready to run through a brick wall.
10
Members only

What's your favorite holiday destination that'll help you recharge if you spend just 1 week there?

Question
32
19

Take a vacation

Advice
14
17
Members only

Holiday Vacation

Question
23
Days off
22% 2-3
23% 4-5
38% week or so
17% I get plenty of time from work
146 people voted