Tips to Maximize Vacation Days for Productivity

🤬 “My boss never takes a vacation, so I obviously cannot!” 🤬 “If I take PTO, I’ll just have to do double-time, so why bother?” 🤬 “It looks good to the boss if I’m available 24/7.” Heard these before? ⬇️ As some of you are preparing to take time off for the holidays, and in an era in which we’re seeing companies attempting to offer four-day workweeks and unlimited paid time off, without a structure in place, burnout will continue to soar. I challenge you to take a different approach to your time off. Don’t expect your manager or human resources department to micromanage how much PTO you have remaining. Set your boundaries and take your earned time off! Here are some actionable tips on how to use your earned time off. ✅ Create your proactive system. In my career, I used a 6-3-1 approach. I would take a week off every six months, every three months, I’d take a long weekend, and every month I’d take a half day or full day. Setting this in my calendar gave me the confidence to use my time off and set boundaries with my colleagues, managers, and clients. Design a system that works for you. ✅ Set yourself up for a stress-free time off. At least one to two weeks before your vacation, create a pre-vacation priorities plan. The process is as simple as getting out a piece of paper and sorting your priorities into four categories: 1️⃣ Pre-vacation priorities: what must be done before you leave, and how are you making time for these priorities?  2️⃣ Delegate: what project(s) will continue while you’re away, who is your proxy, and do they know what they need to execute? 3️⃣ Post-vacation priorities: what are your work priorities when you return, and when will you work on those priorities? 4️⃣ Delete: what is NOT a valuable use of your time or anyone else’s time? Additional tips before you leave on vacation: ✅ Block out at least 1-2 hours in your calendar for your first day back. This time is for you to review your email inbox and get caught up before diving into meetings and other activities. ✅ Build in a recovery day. If you’re traveling, the stress of doing so on a Sunday before returning to work on Monday won’t make you feel refreshed. Consider leaving for home 48-72 hours before you return to work. ✅ Ask your team to send you a “while you were away” email. I always appreciated a “what you missed” email when my teams shared immediate highlights, issues and questions I should start reviewing upon my return. And I worked with my teams to return this in kind when my colleagues were away. This approach will empower you to take the time off you deserve guilt- and stress-free. Now, get planning and enjoy your well-deserved vacation! #ChasingTheSun #Holiday #WellBeing

👇 My thoughts on working on vacation. I’ve always struggled taking vacations. Everyone has their opinions on what you should or shouldn’t do related to “work” while on vacation. For a while I battled with myself saying “you need to completely unplug and recharge while on vacation.” I felt guilty for “leaving” and taking time away from businesses and projects. Yet I always found myself pulled to work through random thoughts, ideas, inspiration and ideas. In fact, I’ve noticed that some of my best ideas come on vacation or in a change of scenery. After testing a few different methods of finding a work/break balance, this is the one that has worked best for me. At the beginning of trip, I break out a new notebook dedicated to ideas and inspiration. And a Pilot G2 pen cause that’s the only pen anyone should use (I’ll die on this hill) Anything that pops into my mind, I write it down on the notebook. I don’t write it on my phone, I just use the notebook. If there’s anything I absolutely HAVE to do, I’ll address it that night when I get back to the hotel. But for the most part, I’ll take these ideas, write them down and revisit them after the trip is over. This analog approach has allowed me to unwind and ease travel anxieties. I don’t “forget anything” cause it’s all written down. And I take time at the end of the trip (usually on the plane ride home) to refresh and revisit the entire notebook and address any tasks or action items. I’m 48 hours into this current trip and already 10+ pages into this notebook. This system has allowed me to more fully enjoy my trips and helps me still document and account inspiration I receive, without feeling guilty for “working” while on vacation. Hope this $2.50 hack helps you on your next vacation. Got another hack/tip? I’m all ears. #Entrepreneurship #WorkLifeBalance

🏢 Architects: Hello workaholics, do we need to learn to vacation better? I get it, we feel like we're constantly overworked, underpaid, and not valued enough by our clients. It's no wonder we struggle to leave everything behind and truly switch off during a vacation. In a field where creativity meets relentless deadlines, we often find ourselves glued to our devices, answering emails, reviewing designs, and attending virtual meetings, even when we're supposed to be relaxing. This constant hustle leaves us exhausted and makes it harder to fully recoup during our time off. When "nose to the grindstone" is consistently your modus operatum, it makes it that much harder to step away from the work. But what if we could change that? What if we learned to vacation better? Here are 5 recommendations to set up operations so you can take a worry-free vacation: 1️⃣ Delegate Responsibilities: Ensure your team knows their roles and can handle tasks in your absence. Empower them to make decisions. 2️⃣ Set Clear Priorities: Outline key projects and deadlines, and communicate them to your team well in advance. 3️⃣ Automate Processes: Use project management tools to automate routine tasks and keep everything on track. 4️⃣ Designate a Point Person: Appoint a trusted team member to be the main contact for any urgent matters. 5️⃣ Establish a Communication Plan: Set expectations for communication while you're away. Limit check-ins to critical issues only. For solo practitioners (but also everyone) 1️⃣ Notify Clients in Advance: Inform your clients about your planned absence and ensure all urgent matters are addressed before you leave. 2️⃣ Set Proper Client Boundaries: Clearly communicate your availability and response times. Let clients know that you will be unavailable during your vacation and provide an alternative contact if necessary. It's time to prioritize our well-being. Taking a real break doesn't just recharge our batteries; it also boosts our creativity and productivity in the long run. So, let's learn to truly disconnect, enjoy the present, and return to work feeling refreshed and more valued. Next time you plan a vacation, commit to a full digital detox. Your mind, body, and creativity will thank you! #ArchitectureLife #WorkLifeBalance #DigitalDetox #MentalHealthMatters #ArchitectsOnVacation _____________________ Hi, 👋🏻 I'm Evelyn Lee, FAIA | NOMA I've been on the client side for over a decade and have spent the last five years in tech, helping create exceptional employee experiences while growing the business. Now, I help architects: ⇒ Think Differently ⇒ Increase Productivity ⇒ Create Opportunities