How Do I Set Boundaries While on Vacation?
As teams drive workplace output, establishing vacation time boundaries helps keep your deliverables on track and your time away your own.
You and your loved one finally did it. You traveled to an exclusive spa, a lovely beachfront resort, for some much-needed R&R.
The weather is perfect. A gentle breeze fills the air with the aroma of sea salt. The only items on your calendar today are Hot Yoga, a deep-tissue massage, and the dinner reservation at the resort's Michelin-rated restaurant.
It's just after lunch. You settle into your beach lounge. And then your phone lights up.
What do you do?
If you've communicated well your wishes not to be disturbed, you do nothing.
But what if you haven't set clear boundaries with your fellow workplace team members? Well, you are in for a lot of interruptions from team members and deep disappointment from your loved one.
Setting vacation boundaries is essential for truly recharging and maintaining wellbeing. With a little planning and clear communication of your needs, your time away can be problem free:
Before you head out for vacation do advise your fellow team members, management, and key stakeholders the exact dates you'll be unavailable.
Set crystal clear expectations. Advise everyone with whom you normally engage that you will be offline from [start date] to [end date] and not checking email or messages regularly.
Delegate responsibility to key team members to handle any urgent matters that arise (because they will arise). Provide clear documentation that helps your teammate cover off anything that's in process while you are away. And if necessary create a redundancy plan, meaning, if your team member Joe is suddenly out sick then your team member Jane can take over riding point on your workplace deliverables.
Post clear out-of-office messaging for email and also LinkedIn. And be specific: “I’m on vacation from [beginning date] to [end date] and not checking messages. For urgent matters, contact [Name] at [email]. I’ll respond when I return to work on [date].”
While you watch the tide roll in, take care to turn off or mute notifications to your mobile devices.
Last, stick to your boundaries. Avoid the temptation to check email “just in case.” If you’ve communicated that you are unavailable, then model that boundary by honoring it.
This is your time. And you've created a work fit where this time away from work and workplace are to be enjoyed (not sullied).
As we enter June 2025, many of you will hit the road and the skies for a fun and relaxing destination. Do enjoy every moment of your time away. You've earned it!
And when our time away is honored, then our best days lie ahead.
Note: image rendered on ChatGPT 4o based on our prompts.
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. I am also a Founding Member of The Future of Work Alliance.