Do You Work Remotely? Here’s How to Actually Disconnect While On Vacation

One of the most attractive parts of remote working is being able to work from anywhere. That’s why nearly one third of remote workers are quietly vacationing, aka taking secret vacations, instead of taking real breaks from work. 

What many remote workers fail to understand is that taking real vacations is actually vital and can even boost productivity during regular work weeks. A study found that those who vacation experience fewer stress-related physical complaints and lower levels of exhaustion and depression. On top of that, when on vacation, you often sleep better which is important because you can make up for lost sleep during regular life.    

Taking the vacations you deserve has even been found to reduce the risk of heart disease while decreasing the risk of metabolic syndrome, which includes other ailments like stroke and diabetes. 

If that’s not reason enough, vacationing not only reduces burnout, but also boosts productivity. A study found that for each additional 10 hours of vacation employees took, their year-end performance ratings improved by 8%. 

With all that in mind, it remains shocking that 48% of Americans don’t use all their vacation time and 36% admit to not having taken any vacation in the last year. On top of that, 81% of remote workers admit to checking emails outside of work hours, including during vacations. 

The issue is many workers, especially remote ones, don’t feel they can take time off because they could fall behind because they are “too busy,” aren’t clear on the boundaries, or feel pressured to be constantly available and fear negative repercussions if they aren’t. So if you’re struggling with taking a real vacation, know you’re not alone. 

Even after all the home boundaries are set, “vacation boundaries are still a challenge!” said Sunny Ziemer, CEO of Distribute Consulting.

“When that happens, I remind myself of what I’d tell a teammate: you’re on PTO for a reason,” she said. “Rest is vital, and trust is the foundation of remote work. Trust that your team will carry on while you’re out, just like you would for them.” 

“‘Quiet vacationing’ reflects how much pressure remote workers feel to always be available,” said Dr. Ali Mattu, a clinical psychologist specializing in workplace stress and anxiety and founder of Mind Stuff, a platform dedicated to making mental health education accessible. “It’s a sign that the workplace culture may need recalibrating. Everyone deserves to rest without guilt and without hiding it.” 

Now that you can be sure that taking a vacation here and there is not only good for you but also good for your work, let’s look at some ways you can properly disconnect while lounging on the beach or hiking through some mountains. 

“Let your team know when you’ll be unavailable, and clarify who will be covering your responsibilities,” Ali said.

Setting clear boundaries will help you feel like you’ve set your team up for success, which is crucial for you to be able to disconnect. Your work is important and you can trust your team can carry on without you while you rest and enjoy some time off.  

“This reduces the likelihood of you being contacted mid-break,” Ali said.

Setting expectations ahead of time helps you decide what your time away will look like. 

This sounded like a tough one when I heard it because I’m so used to checking my phone for emails and messages, but Ali reminded me that I can’t disconnect if half my mind is still actively at work. 

“If you’re tempted to check in, mute notifications,” he said. “Or better yet, temporarily delete Slack from your phone.”

So this vacation, find something else to occupy your screen time or better yet, leave the screens at the hotel room and go enjoy the views. 

“The best way to mentally detach is to immerse yourself in sensory-rich experiences,” Ali said. “Swimming, trying new foods, hiking somewhere new. Anything that engages your senses helps shift your brain out of work mode.”

So try that activity you’ve always dreamed of: scuba diving, sky diving, paragliding, it’s your choice. Trust me, your phone will be just fine waiting for you in your room. 

It’s hard to completely detach, especially when we’ve been trained to be available for work all year round.

“If you do check an email or clear out a few tasks, it doesn’t mean you failed your vacation,” Ali said. “For some, a little maintenance now makes reentry less stressful later.” 

Just make sure that you make the difference between allowing yourself to easily roll back into work and actually working while on vacation. 

Everyone deserves to take a break here and there, so take a look at your calendar, get ready to tell your team and clients, and enjoy yourself on your next vacation. You’ll be glad you did.