AskHandle’s Post

How do you smoothly transition back into work routine after the summer vacation ends? Here are some tips to ease back into work after your holiday and avoid the post-vacation slump.

How do you smoothly transition back into work routine after the summer vacation ends? Here are some tips to ease back into work after your holiday and avoid the post-vacation slump.

📌The summer vacation is over, we are back to the office, and the little ones have started a new school year. In this context, returning to work is not always the easiest. Many emails, new tasks, and also the need to adapt to a completely different schedule then the one during vacation. For all those who have just returned from holiday, we have some tips to make this transition easier 👇 #SGGSC #BackToWork

Why do some of us struggle to unplug during vacation time? Since our last WHAT'S YOUR WORK FIT? of the season aired on June 12, I've taken a couple of mini-cations, the first to visit my daughter in her new place, and the second, to catch up on sleep and pool time and my summer reading. So, while I'm chillin, I prompted Microsoft Copilot to address this question on my behalf: why do some of us struggle to unplug during vacation time? Here's the result: Some business executives find it challenging to unplug during their vacations for several reasons: Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): They worry about missing important updates or decisions while away from work. Responsiveness Reflex: The habit of constantly checking emails or messages becomes ingrained, making it hard to disconnect. Workload Concerns: Executives may fear returning to a pile of work if they fully unplug. Lack of Trust: Delegating tasks and trusting their team to handle urgent matters can be difficult. Dopamine Rush: The anticipation of good news or achievements keeps them connected. Remember, taking breaks is essential for peak performance. So, if you’re heading on vacation, consider these tips to unplug like a boss: - Hide your inbox physically to avoid checking emails. - Arrange for coverage so your team can handle urgent issues. - Opt for mid-week to mid-week vacations for a psychological boost. If you must discuss work, focus on future plans rather than current tasks. Not bad, Copilot. And no FOMO here. I hope you all can grab some good meaningful ME TIME this summer. Grab a book and hit the beach. Travel to a great destination. Unplug. Take life slow. When we do all of that our best days lie ahead. 😁 I’m Dan Smolen. As host and executive producer of WHAT'S YOUR WORK FIT? I help you make your work and workplace decisions result in better and more satisfying professional experiences and outcomes. Ring my 🔔 to discover more about me and my mission. Note: the image in this post, rendered by Microsoft Copilot, was based on our prompt. #futureofwork #meaningfulwork #workfit #vacation #careerpodcast RIP Willie Mays.

Ever tried juggling work while on vacation? This can be challenging for sure, and the key is to avoid turning your entire vacation into a work week. I recently wrote a piece for BuiltIn on how to strike the perfect balance between work and relaxation during your much-deserved time off. In it, I share tips on how to manage your time, maximize the many tools available to you and most importantly, how to prioritize YOU during your vacation while handling any work responsibilities that pop up. Check it out to learn how to truly enjoy your vacation without letting work take over. The full article is here Ever tried juggling work while on vacation? This can be challenging for sure, and the key is to avoid turning your entire vacation into a work week. I recently wrote a piece for BuiltIn on how to strike the perfect balance between work and relaxation during your much-deserved time off. In it, I share tips on how to manage your time, maximize the many tools available to you and most importantly, how to prioritize YOU during your vacation while handling any work responsibilities that pop up. Check it out to learn how to truly enjoy your vacation without letting work take over. The full article is here https://lnkd.in/eBz6WVhM. What are your go-to strategies for balancing work and personal time while on vacation? #WorkLifeBalance #RemoteWork #VacationProductivity #TechTools #SelfCare #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkTips #ProductivityHacks #InterviewingLikeaPro #ConnectingLikeaPro #CommunicatingLikeaPro #LeadingLikeaPro

🌞 Summer Vacation and Business: Finding the Perfect Balance 🌴 As the summer sun shines brightly, many of us are eagerly looking forward to some well-deserved time off. Whether it's a getaway to a tropical beach or simply unplugging at home, summer vacations are essential for recharging our batteries and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. But how do we ensure that our business doesn’t skip a beat while we’re away? Here are a few tips that have helped me: Plan Ahead: Make a checklist of critical tasks and deadlines before you leave. Ensure that projects are on track and delegate responsibilities to team members who can keep things running smoothly. Communicate: Let your clients and colleagues know in advance about your time off. Set up an out-of-office email response with alternative contacts for urgent matters, and make sure everyone is clear on who to reach out to in your absence. Trust Your Team: Empower your team to make decisions and handle challenges while you're away. Building a culture of trust and autonomy not only gives you peace of mind but also strengthens your team's capabilities. Unplug and Reconnect: When you’re on vacation, truly disconnect from work. This is your time to rest, relax, and gain a fresh perspective. You’ll return with renewed energy and creativity, ready to tackle new challenges. Reflect and Reset: Use this time away to reflect on your goals, both personal and professional. Summer is a great time to evaluate your progress and realign your strategies for the rest of the year. Remember, taking a break isn't just about escaping work—it's about coming back stronger. So, enjoy your summer, recharge your mind, and get ready to finish the year on a high note! 🌟 How do you balance your work and vacation? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #WorkLifeBalance #SummerVacation #Leadership #BusinessTips #Teamwork

Vacation season is here! But if you're like most, you might think, "I'll just do a bit of work while I'm gone..." Sounds familiar? A survey found that 82% of Americans work during vacations!  But let's not underestimate the true cost of never really unplugging. Downtime is crucial! Without it, we risk brain fatigue and lose our best cognitive abilities. Science shows that real recovery is essential. Here are some strategies to set yourself up for post vacation success: https://lnkd.in/dtba6_Xk #vacationmode #leadershipdevelopment #workwise #worklife #successmindset

I really enjoy my vacation. Time spent with family and friends doing all sorts of great things - enjoying the sun, sightseeing where ever you are in world, talking to people about things that matter right now, eating great food, deep diving into the culture you are in, and probably a lot more. Getting back to work is also great, if it isn't, then it would be time to re-think the way I spent 30-40% of my time awake during the week! I know - it has its tough times also. One thing I have experienced getting back to work while a lot of colleagues and people I collaborate with are still on vacation, is the "Out of office replies". Some of them are extremely funny, some are very bold and one or two are little disturbing! A re-written example of the latter could be: "Dear sender, I'm OoO on vacation. I will be back on August 2 and revert to you as soon as I have been through my mail box. In urgent matters you can reach me on +45 12345678" NO!!! Nobody can reach you on your vacation. It is meant for you to recharge your batteries and do things that are not possible during a regular week. Very few people are so important or possess such a special skillset that nobody else would be able to guide, support, facilitate, answer, solve, ... whatever problem that occurs before you get back in the office - or that the problem can't wait a few days. A very bold out of office reply was something a long the lines of: "Dear sender, I'm spending time on vacation in the period June 15 - August 2. All mails will deleted in this period. If you believe your question is still relevant please re-send after August 2. Have a fantastic summer" That might be a little on the other side of the spectrum. Strike the right balance, but be sure to sanctify your vacation period. Have a great rest of the summer and think about how you phrase your Out of office reply next time ... you are welcome ;-) #worklifebalance #vacation #Empowerment #Behavior

August is here and that, unofficially, starts the countdown of our last month of summer! For many in the US, August is a peak time for squeezing in the last of summer vacation before the Labor Day holiday arrives. Note: Labor Day is also known as the "unofficial last day of summer". A client and I recently had a great conversation about his upcoming summer vacation. He was looking forward to taking two weeks off and planned to fully immerse himself in a bunch of outdoor activities over that time. Hiking, biking, fishing, boating, etc. It sounded amazing! What I heard in his voice and what I saw in his body language seemed to indicate otherwise! He mentioned that he was excited but also very anxious about taking 'such a long break with so many things going on at work.' He was going to take his laptop and check in on things in the evenings, just in case. It sounded to me like remote work vs. a two-week vacation. Wait.....what??? A bit of clarification, a bit of introspection, and a lot of 'a-ha' over the hour. By the end of our session, my client gained insights into how he might best prepare for the break so that he can truly immerse himself in his outdoor adventures *and* disconnect from work without feeling anxious. I'm looking forward to his next session, post-vacation! As you may be gearing up for your August vacation, this article from Harvard Business Review might be a great resource for you. The article provides insights into five boundaries you should consider setting BEFORE going on vacation. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gp-nB7mF I'm curious: -What boundaries do you SET before heading off on vacation? -What actions do you take to HOLD boundaries while on vacation? Please share your comments below!

Halfway through summer vacation season! 🏖 What boundaries do you SET before going on vacation? What actions do you take to HOLD boundaries while on vacation?? My short-list of actions to HOLD boundaries: 🔋 leave the laptop power adapter at home (rationale: it limits how much checking in I would be able to do) 🔑 change my Windows/MacOS password (rationale: won't be able to log in) ✈ leave device in airplane mode (rationale: no wifi to 'send' anything out) The one that worked the best?? 🎯 Telling my children that I will NOT work on vacation! One of the best accountability partners is adolescent (or teenage) children who will remind you CONSTANTLY about what you said were NOT going to do! 👀 😬 What boundaries do you SET/HOLD - and are they effective?? #IAmACoach #LeadingExecutively #VacationPreparation #Delegation #EmpowerYourTeams #UseYourPTO #Disconnect #Recharge