Don’t Take Another Vacation Until You Know These 4 Tricks
Summer is here. Which means: it’s peak vacation season.
Translation: half your team is out, your inbox is a chaotic mess of half-completed tasks, and you swear you’re going to relax on that beach…but your brain is still at the office holding down the fort.
If you’re a leader or a well-intentioned toxic overachiever, a vacation can feel less like a break and more like one more thing on your to-do list.
I get it.
Planning the trip is stressful. Being on the trip makes you feel guilty. And coming back from the trip to hundreds of unread emails makes you wonder if it was worth it at all.
Let’s fix that.
Because, believe it or not, a vacation can be the best productivity tool you have. One that actually makes you better at what you do.
So read on to learn how to take the vacation and finally enjoy every minute of it (yes, even with that ambitious, perfectionist brain of yours along for the ride).
Why Taking Time Off Matters
If you’ve ever told yourself:
“I’ll take time off after this next big project…”
“It’s not the right time for PTO right now…”
“I’ll relax when things slow down…”
Let me gently break it to you: it’s never the right time.
Your calendar will never magically open up. Your inbox will never empty itself. And your team? They’ll keep needing things whether you’re at your desk or on a boat.
But here’s what most people miss: breaks are how you win at work.
You’re sharper.
You solve problems faster.
You don’t resent your coworkers.
You actually like your job again.
So if you want to be more productive, creative, strategic, and sane? Stop avoiding your PTO like it’s optional.
But…What About the Guilt?
If your brain is throwing these classics at you:
“Things will fall apart without me.”
“I’m leaving my team hanging.”
“It’s selfish to take this break.”
Try on these thoughts instead:
“It’s a good strategy to recharge before I burn out.”
“I’m responsible and will leave my projects in a good place.”
“This break isn’t a luxury, it’s how I stay good at what I do.”
Guilt might show up before your trip or right in the middle of it, but you don’t have to entertain it. Choose thoughts that remind you this time away is not only deserved, but necessary.
The Secret to a Truly Stress-Free Vacation? Decide Before You Depart.
You don’t get to relax by accident. Whether it’s prepping for your actual trip or coordinating coverage for your absence at work, a little upfront planning = a brain that can clock out.
Here’s how to set yourself up for full relaxation mode:
Part 1: Plan the Trip, Without the Chaos
Look, you’re busy. You don’t need a 42-tab research rabbit hole or another group chat meltdown trying to remember who’s booking the rental car.
That’s why I made you something: the Time-Savvy Travel Planner.
It’s a ridiculously simple, flexible Google Doc to plan your whole trip in one place.
Flights, stays, activities? Ready to book.
Solo or with a group? Shareable and editable.
Random screenshots, saved tabs, and voice notes? No more.
Best part? All the decision-making happens before your trip, so you can enjoy your vacation without juggling logistics while you’re supposed to be ordering another drink.
Less chaos. More relaxing.
Grab Your Free Time-Savvy Travel Planner
Part 2: Prep the Office So You Can Truly be OOO
No more pretending you’ll “just check a few emails” by the pool. Set yourself up right so you can be fully out of office, body and brain.
Make your “must-do before I leave” list. Then cut it in half. Seriously. Half of it’s probably just noise. Remove any “shoulds” from this list. Focus only on the tasks with unmovable deadlines you’ve already committed to.
Plan your pre-trip schedule. Look at your calendar and block time for anything remaining on your “must-do before I leave” list. If something’s not fitting into your schedule, reprioritize. Reach out to colleagues to confirm deadline priorities. Or delegate tasks to team members who can cover while you’re out.
Communicate and set expectations. Let people know your plans early so they can get what they need before you leave. Make it clear when you’re off, you’re off. Don’t leave the door cracked open for Slack pings.
Plan your return week too. If you want to avoid the Sunday Scaries, dreading the first day back in the office, make sure you know exactly what you’ll be doing when you’re back. Block off time to catch up on emails, priority projects, and, most importantly, lots of flex space for whatever weirdness cropped up while you were gone.
Part 3: Actually Be on Vacation
I would love to keep this section short and just write: “Go enjoy yourself already.”
But for the recovering workaholics in the room…if you must:
Do a one-time inbox sweep (airport lounges are basically productivity purgatory anyway).
Add any “deal with this later” tasks to your return-week calendar.
Close the laptop. Go enjoy your trip.
Remember: vacation isn’t just working somewhere else with better views.
Part 4: Returning To Work with Ease
You did it. You rested. You relaxed. You probably even had a new idea for that work problem that’s been annoying you for weeks. Wild.
Now what?
Start with the first thing you scheduled before you left. No flailing. No inbox doom scroll. Just action.
Notice how much sharper, faster, and happier you are when you’re not running on empty.
Plan that next vacation. You deserve this ‘being-your-best-self’ thing on repeat.
Successful People Don’t Skip PTO: Take the Trip
You don’t have to choose between success or rest.
You deserve both.
Burnout is not a career strategy. Exhaustion doesn’t earn you extra credit.
Taking a real break is one of the best things you can do for your work, not just for your sanity.
So, make this the summer you finally take the trip the right way: No stress. No guilt. No distraction.
And don’t forget to grab your free vacation planner so you can make your next trip the relaxing getaway you deserve.
Bon voyage, friend, and don’t forget the sunscreen!
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About Me
Hi, I’m Kara. I’m a former workaholic turned time-management expert. I help women stressed out in their 9-5 get more done, in less time, so they can get back in the driver’s seat and start living a life they love.
