Make Your Time Off Better
A reflection from Kristin:
Have you ever gotten to a weekend — or long-awaited vacation — and then wondered as it started why you felt … messy? Overwhelmed. Anxious. Irritable.
*raises hand*
One summer, I realized the pattern. Work four 10-hour days, Friday off. Hot mess. Or work four 10s, head out of town for a lake weekend. Snap at husband and kids as we embarked on one of my favorite summer getaways.
Why did relief from an intense work week always turn out so terrible? Looking back, it’s clear.
Imagine driving down the freeway, maybe pushing 85 miles an hour. You see your exit ahead. What happens next?
You slow down and gently ease from 85 to 25 miles per hour.
I was going 85 (probably faster) in my job. On any given day, I was full-on pedal-to-the-workload-metal. Mastering my to-do list and keeping at least 17 high priorities moving forward. I left in the morning before anyone in my house was awake. And I returned home in the evening with just enough time to grab a sandwich, go to ballfields for little league games, get home late and start again.
Thursday night would come. I’d see the off ramp. But instead of slowing down and easing off, I’d find myself in yet another epic, fiery crash.
Messy, indeed.
In the time since, I’ve learned some tricks to (usually) avoid the disastrous exit:
Notice when it’s been intense. You have to realize you’re racing at high speeds to be careful about the exit. Look back and ask yourself how fast you’ve been flying. Pay attention to how amped up your brain or body might feel.
Tell someone. I almost always text my husband when I see a weekend or vacation day coming after a really high-speed, intensely focused period of work. “I’m going to need to pay attention to how I start this weekend” is all it takes to let him know — and make it real for myself.
Slow down as the exit nears. When you can, schedule your work to taper off as you approach the weekend. If you have a string of meetings or deadlines, look for other small ways to slow your nervous system. Click for our guide on how to do this.
Avoid chores and obligations that evening or the next day (or two). Chances are, you don’t actually need to make six dozen meatballs to put in the freezer, or deep clean all the bathrooms. Keep your time simple, quiet and slow. Hit a drive-thru or warm up leftovers. A bowl of cereal (or guacamole) for dinner is underrated. Snuggle in. Everything else really can wait.
Limit alcohol. While it’s normal to think alcohol or other substances will ease you off the fastest freeway, it’s unlikely to help. You're more likely to feel better, sooner, when your nervous system is allowed to slow down on its own.
Put your phone on the charger. Connect with the people in your presence. If you want to read, find a book or magazine. If you want to watch, turn on the TV. (Who knows? After a busy week, our phones could probably use a break from us, too.)
I’ve learned that when I off-ramp intentionally, I recover much more quickly — and I enjoy my entire time off more. I had grown accustomed to feeling a some level of mess every weekend. Now, a bit of intentional slowing down in transition improves the chance I’ll enjoy a better mood and energy for the days that follow.
And that’s a good thing for everyone.
Be well,
Shawn McKillop, APR // Twitter // Email
Kristin Magette, APR // Twitter // Email
#K12prWell
Check out these tips for using an Out of Office message. This is the perfect way to protect your time away and clearly communicate with the people who count on you each day.
Have you made an Emergency Sub Plan yet? It's the best way to create peace of mind and continuity of communication functions when you are away from the office. It is a great tool to protect vacation time — and essential in those times when it suddenly is impossible to work.