SAND CASTLE OR CASTLE IN THE SKY?

What could be more important than a vacation? That’s when we de-stress, unwind, and find peace, tranquility, and maybe some adventure… “Not on your vacations!” you say.
If you think the fantasy of a vacation is alluring, but the reality is more a flight of imagination, if you believe the biggest adventure is returning to work after a week away, you’re not alone. Entrepreneurs, executives, managers, administrative assistants, and just about any businessperson, might shiver and shake at the thought of what’s left behind and what’s later to find.

Here are six vacation success tips to put you in the vacation-pro mode:
1) Clear the slate. Well before you leave, have a plan to get your high priority items completed or in a safe holding pattern mode.

2) Sweat the small stuff. Clean out your email and snail mail boxes. Take care of your voice mail messages. Have a serious throw away session followed by a serious filing session for what’s left.

3) Notify key people, customers, clients, and colleagues of your vacation dates. Provide them with the names of designated contact people should they need anything.

4) Be sure you choose your stand-ins carefully and be clear about how and what you want handled. Make no assumptions. Clarity is king.

5) Tech or no tech on vacation? It all depends on your comfort level and what you want to get out of your get-away. The line between life and work is pretty fuzzy now, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But, keep your promises to yourself and your loved ones. Don’t sabotage your relationships and your down time simply because you can’t bear to power-off. Enjoy yourself and trust your point people at command central to take care of business unless you can power-on for short periods only.

6) Eventually you’re going to have to come back to work. If possible, plan for a day to get through the logjam that formed while you were splashing in the surf. After all, you likely spent a day or more prepping before vacation. Let appointments, new projects, customers, meetings and such wait just one more day. If you can’t commit to a full day, try a half-day of personal, private focus time to clear the clutter. Trust me on this!

Bon Voyage… and, please, send me a postcard!

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