Boundaries you NEED TO SET On Your Next Vacation
we’re heading into summer 2021…
and my guess? it’s going to be a doozy!
We’ve all been cooped up since March 2020, and I’m sure many of us are chomping at the bit to get out. And as vacation requests roll in from the people on my team, I know that we have big plans to do just that.
But, here’s the important thing to remember - we haven’t taken a real break since long before the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic started, and I wanted to make sure we’re all set up for it. And, when I say “it” I mean the boundaries that it’s going to take to really enjoy your time off.
We’ve all been in full hustle mode since this thing began and that likely means longer hours and more time being on. Even if you have a vacation planned, it may not be that easy to suddenly switch off when it’s been months since you’ve done so.
so, in this post, that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about…
the vacation boundaries that you need to set!
And I’m not just blowing smoke out my ass when I say this. I tested each and everyone of these boundaries on vacation in February in Maui. Hell, it was basically the first one I’ve taken since I got back from Remote Year in 2019...but despite it being a work-travel program, my boundaries between work and play were too blurred.
Even since Remote Year, on my staycations and long weekends, I’d make myself “available” out of obligation... but not this time. This time I set the following boundaries and each and every one of them is a boundary that I encourage you to set…
📧 #1 - NO EMAIL. Yup, I didn’t check my work or business email for over 7 days...and weird as it might have been to do so, it gave me the true seperation I need to be unplugged on vacation.
📵#2 - MINIMAL PHONE ACCESS. While I was out, I told my family I was out. I usually give my families, students, and clients a phone number to text me but ONLY for emergencies. Moving forward, I’m going to make the boundary even harder, but, at the time I directed them to their advisors for all their other needs. And any responding that I did do, I did on MY schedule. Not theirs. If you’e going to give your people any access to you, let them know that they’re responding on your time.
⛔ #3 - DON'T SAY "SORRY". If it took a while to respond, my response wasn't an apology cuz frankly, I have nothing to apologize for. Instead, it was a "thank you for your patience..." In fact, this is something I’ve implemented beyond just my vacations. Across the board, there’s been no more “sorries” on my end. I do not need to apologize for having boundaries and having a life, and - guess what - you don’t either.
⛱️ #4 - DON'T WORK. I had so many projects I "planned on doing" while I was on vacation. But honestly? I didn't WANT to do them, and I wasn't in the headspace to do them. So, I made a deal with myself to not work and I felt WAY better for it. If you haven’t taken a break in a while, do the same. You deserve a break and, in this case, it’s a break from productivity.
🧘🏼♀️#5 - TAKE THE ME TIME. Even if you're traveling with others. Take “me time”. This may not be a work boundary - but it’s an important one.
Us achievers? We could be WAY better at taking time off, but if anything, we definitely need to improve the boundaries we set when we do vacation.
These were my boundaries.
And damn did they make my hawaii vacation in january a great one.
What boundaries do you need?
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