Taking Vacation

Full disclosure:  I am on one. Here are a few reflections on the importance and process of unplugging.

For startup leaders, taking a vacation can be tough. But it is necessary. 

For me, this one has been a long time coming. Originally scheduled for March 2020, the pandemic killed the first try, and the second in 2021. When 2022 rolled around, and Belize opened again, we were determined to ignore the pressures that said “not a good time” and go anyway. The picture on this blog is what I am looking at right now as I write this.

Why taking vacation is important

• As leaders, we can get sucked into the day-to-day grind of building our startup – and not step away long enough and far enough to see the big picture trends. A week of vacation provides enough time to unplug and see the world differently.
  
• Relationships outside of work are crucial. Vacations are an opportunity to nurture and build them.
  
• Getting outside our own bubble and engaging the broader world can provide a new perspective on life, reminding us that we are part of a bigger world, that some things we have been ignoring are too important to ignore, and enabling us to take stock.
  
• If we do not respect a cycle of work and rest, we can burn out. Vacations are a chance to renew our energy and recharge so we can do the work ahead.
  
• When you take a vacation, you implicitly give others on your team permission to take needed vacations as well.
  
• And, last but not least, it can be FUN creating memories for a lifetime! We never know how long we have, so it is essential to take time to smell the flowers along the journey.

Tips that help me take a vacation – maybe they will help you, too!

• Go away from your typical environment. While some may be able to make a “stay-cation” work, I can’t. My normal environment invites me to keep engaging in everyday tasks too much. I need to get away to break the stimuli.
  
• Prepare by actively handing off responsibilities to your team so they will not need to engage you much (at all?). This process prepares them to step up and take ownership while you are gone, gives you a chance to validate the processes and team you’ve built. Empowering others can be a great two-way trust builder.
  
• Engage others in planning your vacation. I am such a planner, but it is a lot of work to plan a vacation. Leverage your spouse, travel agent, or adult child if you can. And then go with the flow they decide. Enjoy not being in charge for a while.
  
• Take enough time. A weekend may be fun, but it takes me a few days to unplug from work and let the emails wind down before I can really let go and be. Less than a week is not enough.
  
• Communicate with your key colleagues what you need to feel like things are handled. For me, some status updates along the way are massive enablers to let go and relax, and they help me rest in knowing others are carrying the water. Without them, I have difficulty turning off my relentless pushing nature.
  
• Turn up your “do not disturb” filters as high as possible. And give yourself grace and communicate clearly with your travel companions when something you really cannot ignore or handoff rears its head. Some things we cannot afford to ignore, but we can certainly try to minimize them.
  
• Be self-disciplined. Do not open the document you just received but decided can wait. Taking a peek is a slippery slope toward engaging your brain in work. If you can, forward it to someone who can peek and make sure there is not a bomb in there, but do not do it yourself whenever possible. Your goal is to let your brain drift away from working, so be vigilant about not opening yourself up to stimuli.

Ok, that’s it—no more tips. I am going to go listen to the waves, read a good book, and enjoy the sunshine!