It is summer and that time of year when people tend to shift their routines to take a break. It’s a time when traditions appear on the calendar: a BBQ with friends, a trip to the beach, a family reunion or even a vacation. The question is how do we ensure these traditions are also times of recharging and refueling. How are you doing at recharging your batteries this summer?
In talking to people about their summer plans, it seems one of the biggest challenge is how to truly step away from work. In some ways, our technology allows us to step away because we can flex our schedules. However, if we are stepping away and still staying connected throughout our time off are we really recharging? If we are feeling obligated to check email and texts on vacation, are we truly unwinding and refueling?
Much has been written about the importance of taking time away from work and focusing on family, friends, hobbies, and rest. Digital Detox is easy in concept but unless organizations put policies in place to support times for recharge, it’s difficult to unplug. People fear falling behind at work or coming back to work with 100’s of unanswered emails. What is your workplace doing to support you in taking time away from work? What structures would help you to fully disengage from work and focus on your summer refueling? What can you do to take ownership of your digital detox?
Some organizations now make it a requirement that employees not check their emails. In fact, there are some that even pay you a bonus if you don’t check email. Others, inform email senders that an employee is on vacation and that the sender’s email will not be received. The sender is invited to resend the email after the end of the employee’s vacation. Creating organizational structures and policies for people to recharge results in a more energetic work force.
Call it “Unplugging”. Digital Detox. Sabbath Manifesto. Optimize Brain Function whatever but the research is telling us if we turn off FOMO(Fear of Missing Out) and work through the digital withdrawal that we really can recover and recharge.
What can you do to ensure that your summer tradition becomes a recharge time? You deserve it.
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