Studies show that time away from work is critical to your well-being and ensures a healthier work-life balance. Anybody who takes time off work for a vacation or even just reset to feel happier and healthier can be more likely to be productive, motivated, and engaged at work when they return. As an entrepreneur, sometimes I think you can never turn yourself off, but I find that if you take a day to unwind, you will quickly see the benefits. According to mental health experts and an article from the Mayo Clinic, here are some things you can do so you will not be thinking of work while you are supposed to be on vacation:
1. Leave your work at home – It is important to have an out-of-office plan with your colleagues. For example:· Create some cheat sheets of things that need to be worked on while you are out of the office· List of contact people or resources that are helpful while you are out so that you won’t get unexpected phone calls· Draft your Out of Office reply
2. Relaxation Techniques – By utilizing relaxation techniques, you can become more aware of muscle tension and other physical sensations of stress. Once you know what the stress response feels like, you can make a conscious effort to practice a relaxation technique the moment you start to feel stress symptoms. This can prevent stress from spiraling out of control and decreasing your quality of life. Here are some examples of relaxation techniques that you can use.· Deep breathing· Massage· Meditation· Tai chi· Yoga· Biofeedback· Music and art therapy· Aromatherapy· HydrotherapyI have used massage therapy, meditation, art therapy, and yoga, and now I go kayaking to help me relax and promote my self-care. There is no right answer, it is what you like and what level of activity you enjoy.
3. Limit Technology – The first thing we do when we go away is ask what the WiFi password is? This happened to me this summer on vacation with my family. Things were not off to a great start without making sure we were all connected. I gave them the satisfaction of the connection but limited time for them. We had our beach time, pool time, and shopping time, along with answering emails, etc. We don’t realize how much time we spend on our phones and how they can steal from us.
I hope you enjoyed this blog. Try and make it a point to recharge this summer, whether it is for a week or just a day. You will thank me later. I would love to hear about your summer getaways! I will be happy to take the time to connect with you. Margherita C. AmploMCA Consulting Services, LLC.https://www.mcacs.us/
