Vacation Like You Mean It — How to Unplug When You’re OOO

In today’s always-on world, knowing how to set boundaries and unplug is crucial. The problem is that being on vacation doesn’t mean you’re unreachable. Whether out of social pressure to show off on the ‘gram or due to emails piling up in your inbox (despite your best out-of-office message), remaining tethered to one’s phone has become a default setting. But going off-the-grid is more necessary than ever! Unscheduled moments of repose can help us remember — or discover — our passions in life. (Plus, those vacation days are part of your compensation. You’ve earned the right to take them in full.)

Making the best of your away time, staycations and long-distance trips alike, requires intention, self-awareness, and communication. To help you ace your vacation just as well as you succeed at work, we’ve compiled tips and strategies on how to make the best of your time out-of-office (OOO).

Free Yourself From Your Phone

Even phone companies have acknowledged our global screen obsession by developing tech limitations. Dannielle Romoleroux, a campus engagement manager at Jopwell, says the Do Not Disturb setting on her phone is one of her favorite features. “Turning off my notifications allows me to be in the moment and enjoy the time I spend outside of work without feeling pressured.”

That isn’t the only way to get some phone freedom. Reorganizing your home screen can change which apps you see (and click on) first. If you have a hard-to-manage habit of refreshing social media every 90 seconds or want to limit your time on certain apps, move those options off of your home screen or use features like App Limits to tamp down on your usage. For an old-school tactic, log out of your apps to make it harder for you to scroll mindlessly (and don’t cheat by logging in through the web browser!). Or go totally cold turkey by deleting your apps until your time off is over.

Set “Blackout” Times

Abandoning all work emails for the entirety of one’s vacation isn’t possible for all professionals. Different jobs require different levels of connectivity. Unfortunately, not all bosses will take your absence from work in stride. Instead of making a loose goal to stay offline and then throwing that out the window every time your phone buzzes, set specific periods times of day when you can be reached, if necessary. Before you take your time off, communicate with any managers, team members, or clients about your schedule (“If necessary, I can be reached from 1-2 p.m. EST”) and assign a point person to field urgent matters in your stead. Also, make sure to ask that person first -- no one likes surprise responsibilities. You can also create an OOO guide with relevant task information, contacts and to-do lists so your team can easily cover for you while you’re away.

Do the same with family or friends who are used to hearing from you. If you know your parents or loved ones will freak out if you go MIA for several days in a row, let them know you need some time to unwind and won’t be as readily available. Check in now and then with a good, old fashioned text message rather than running to social media and losing yourself in all the updates there.

Get a Hobby

Doing something you love can be a magical experience — especially if what you love isn’t what you do professionally. If your chief complaint on the clock is that you don’t have enough time to devote to your favorite hobbies, don’t repeat the same mistakes on your vacation! You can absolutely enjoy those moments in small ways. I personally love making music. It’s impossible for me to multitask or check my phone a million times when practicing. Playing is the perfect way to get a much-needed break from the world and its endless responsibilities — even if I only do it for 20 minutes.

Ball Out — On a Budget

For some people, going on vacation means sleeping as much as possible, preferably poolside. For others, a vacation isn’t complete without a packed schedule. If you don’t have a hobby or activities in mind to keep you occupied, use your time off to discover a new one. Sites like Groupon are full of new adventures — for a discount. You can find low-commitment fun that's off the couch and that doesn't break your bank.

Other out-of-office pleasures can be even simpler. Manicures are the go-to destresser for one of our employees. Annie Hopkins, the director of campus recruitment at Jopwell, said, “Getting a manicure is 30 minutes where I don’t need to take care of anything or anyone and just let myself be. That small reprieve re-energizes me to tackle my to-do list and take care of everything I need to afterward.”

Be of Service

A great way to leave your day-to-day stressors behind is by dedicating your time to others. College students often elect to participate in “Alternative Spring Break” programs that incorporate travel and community service (neighborhood clean-up projects, helping to build homes, and more). Trips can be great opportunities for students who want to spend their time off sharing a deeply engaging experience with others. If you’re not in school, there are also local community service opportunities — many of which happen during traditional 9-to-5 hours when you’re typically at work. When you use your time off to build a stronger connection with your community, the glow often lingers even after you’ve returned to your normal schedule.