The Importance of Disconnecting During a Vacation

The summer is here and people are looking forward to disconnecting during their vacation. In fact, they have many expectations for fun throughout these days, perhaps too many. The first thing to do to fulfill the goal of relaxing is to not have overly high expectations.

In other words, one could say that the first thing you have to do to disconnect is activate the “offline” pilot and do nothing “just because” when you don’t feel like it. Thus, you must be able to interpret, rather than follow, what you wrote in your agenda in order to be able to disconnect.

Disconnecting

Emptying the mind to physically and emotionally enjoy every moment goes against what Western culture values: performance, productivity, competence, and anticipation. However, this kind of unloading is necessary to fulfill all those responsibilities you assume when you’re at work.

Also, contrary to what most people believe, it isn’t about emptying your mind. It’s a way of being “actively available”, true self-control that allows you to feel intensely. This is the opposite of quitting or giving up.

Some would need shorter but regular breaks, while others need longer periods before resuming their rhythm. The first thing is to honor your needs and try to reconcile their satisfaction with those of the company you work for. Quality is what often makes the difference.

This is because the success of an attempt to disconnect also depends on how you occupy and organize your time off.

To disconnect on vacation, choose well

Maybe you’re 18 and feel like venturing off the beaten track. Well, age has nothing to do with daring to go on an adventure. The older you get, the more experience you have and the more controlled risks you take.

Choose the destination and the company according to your tastes and whether you want to spend a few peaceful, adventurous, or eccentric days. It’s no use if everyone likes tropical beaches when you don’t really like this plan. It’s about you and your circumstances. Why use your savings and time off in a plan that doesn’t suit you?

The need to disconnect on vacation

Forget your emails and your phone as much as possible. Colleagues can take care of emergencies while you’re away. Otherwise, anybody and any matter can wait for your return. Thus, consider completing a number of important tasks before you leave in order to approach your vacation as smoothly as possible.

Don’t worry, as they’ll know nothing is that urgent and someone else can handle emergencies. Indeed, the more responsibilities you have, the more likely your employees or clients will want to talk to you. Take a deep breath and remember that everything is under control.

The difficulty of disconnecting from work during vacation refers mainly to high-level functions and managers. Don’t worry if this is your case, as you can always find solutions that’ll allow you to enjoy your vacation. Thus, it’s up to you to set an example for your employees and dare to disconnect if you’re an executive or manager.

The ideal scenario is to completely disconnect from the office. Don’t look at your emails, don’t take your messages, and don’t bring any files along. You must prepare for your departure.

You should get out of the routine. It’s important to get out of the house and go to a lake cabin if you can. Camp, travel, or visit friends if possible. This is refreshing and keeps you from spending your vacation doing housework or renovations.

Have fun. The most important thing is doing what you enjoy and not overloading your time off.

The benefits of disconnecting

Why is so important to disconnect during a vacation? You’ll be able to pay attention to your loved ones, which will delight them. Of course, disconnecting will allow you to relax and be more motivated once you return. Its clearest benefits are that it:

• Allows you to nurture your relationships with your loved ones.
• Helps reduce muscle tension.
• Stimulates your immune system.
• Improves your mood.
• Prevents depression.
• Reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Allows you to eat better and get more exercise.
• Helps prevent other diseases.