How to disconnect from work while on vacation

Vacation is a chance to spend quality time with family and friends, while giving your brain a much-needed break. The last thing you want is your cell phone going off with a work assignment from your boss. But it seems that in this day and age people are struggling to find the perfect work-life balance, as they juggle school, work and family responsibilities. We know all about finding this balance at New England College of Business. Our students are expert multi-taskers. Here are a few tips to help you disconnect and enjoy your vacation:

1.) Travel somewhere with a low WiFi connection.

This means that even if you wanted to connect, you simply cannot. Another way to disconnect is to temporarily take your work email off of your phone. This way you won't see the notifications, reducing the temptation to look. Just make sure that you inform your colleagues of this plan ahead of time so they can act accordingly.

2.) Be aware of your company's schedule (as well as your own) to make sure that you take your vacation at an appropriate time.

Do not vacation when you know that there is a large project coming up, or when you have a task you have not yet completed. Write down the tasks that need to be completed before you leave and those that can wait until your return. This will help to give a visual of your responsibilities and keep you organized.

3.) Clarify what situations can be considered urgent.

Before your vacation, explain to your coworkers what is “urgent” and how you plan on handling it. You may consider appointing a trusted coworker as your backup. Set your phone's voicemail and email with an out-of-office message so that everyone is aware of the situation.

If you have any tips or stories on how you balance work and play, let us know. We'd love to hear from you! Share with @NECBedu on Twitter or post on Facebook or LinkedIn!