10 ways to truly switch off over summer

If you’re taking some time off work over the summer, below are some tips to help ensure you actually get a break!

It can be all too easy for work to creep into your vacation if you don't put a few simple boundaries in place.

Try these 10 things to set yourself up for a genuinely restful summer.

1. Communicate the dates you'll be on vacation

Let people know when you'll be away, and kindly ask everyone to respect your peace. If you're a leader or manager, this is an excellent opportunity to lead by example and permit others to do the same.

2. Set up your out-of-office

Turn on an automatic out-of-office response for your work email. Include the date you'll be back, so people know when to expect a reply. If you need to, direct urgent inquiries to the right person or support channel.

3. Prepare a reply for missed work calls or texts

Write an out-of-office text message to anyone who calls or texts. Save it as a note on your phone, so it's easy to copy, paste, and send.

4. Log out!

Ensure you log out of your work email inbox across all devices, including your phone and laptop.

5. Remove work apps from your phone

Delete work-related apps off your phone, so you're not tempted to check-in or do a little work. On many phones, you can remove apps without deleting the data, so it's easy to re-install things once you're back.

6. Update your status to vacation mode

Select 'vacation mode' on all your internal communication tools, like Slack, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or whatever other chat platforms you use.

7. Prepare for any vacation handovers

If you're handing over any tasks or responsibilities to a team member working over the break, prepare handover documents or share access to tools or platforms they might need.

8. Trust your team to do a great job while you're away

This is an important one for leaders and people managers. If you have a team working over the break and you're taking leave, check in with them and make sure they know you have faith in them holding down the fort. Remind yourself there are processes in place to ensure work will run smoothly.

9. Remove work from your home space

If you've been working from home, lock the door to your home office, put your work equipment away, or pop a sheet over your desk—anything you can do to remove triggers and work reminders while relaxing.

10. Try to let go of work stress

If you feel work-related anxiety pop up during your holiday, remember to breathe to calm your nervous system and bring you back to the present.