The power of a holiday – 5 tips to get summer ready
It’s that time of year where you might be going on holiday, working reduced hours or juggling work with childcare as schools break up for the long summer holidays.
Whether you choose to go abroad, have a staycation or time off at home, everyone needs a break. Time off from work is essential for our physical, mental and emotional health and offers us an opportunity to rest and recharge, gain fresh perspectives and enjoy time with loved ones.
However, the lead-up to taking time off can be hectic and overwhelming in a big effort to ‘tie up loose ends’ and get ready for a holiday. Then there’s the thoughts of returning from holiday!
Here are 5 tips to keep calm and in control and manage your expectations at this time of year:
1. Set clear goals for yourself
One of the best ways to stay on track during the summer months is by setting clear goals for yourself and holding yourself accountable.
Break these goals down into smaller actions. These tasks will make up the basis of your day-to-day activities.
Use tools such as calendars, planners or digital apps to schedule tasks, deadlines and appointments.
2. Be smart with your time
Tackle your biggest or most important task earlier in the day, before your brain starts to wander to thoughts of the garden, park or pina coladas!
3. Prioritise tasks
Categorise your tasks based on urgency and importance.
The Eisenhower Matrix helps you put tasks into one of four categories:
- urgent and important
- important but not urgent
- urgent but not important
- neither urgent nor important
This helps you see what needs to be top priority and helps overcome the illusion that everything is urgent.
4. Communicate ahead of time
Let your clients, customers and colleagues know in advance that you will be taking time off, when you will return to work and who they should contact in your absence.
Tell them far enough in advance to ask for anything urgent to be requested before you go.
5. Plan a realistic return
Be kind to your future self and allow for at least one day on your return for catching up. Allow yourself time to catch up on what you have missed read what you’ve missed and plan your priorities and next steps. Ease yourself back in gently.
Taking a holiday is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity. It provides you with the opportunity to step back, relax and recharge your batteries. It allows you to reflect on your business or job from a different place and come up with new ideas and strategies. Sometimes, the best ideas and solutions come when you least expect them and when you are firmly away from your desk!
2 ways I can help you get summer ready
Goal setting and action planning coaching session
Create and achieve your business goals with an action plan to guide and grow your business.
Website review
Make your website work better for your business by improving its content, design and usability and increase engagement and sales
