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Volume #29: Tips for Preparing to Take Time Off (So You Actually Yourself)

Volume #29: Tips for Preparing to Take Time Off (So You Actually Yourself)

Isabella from Simplish
July 04, 2024

There are four stages for enjoying a happy event: anticipation, savoring, expression, and reflection. Anticipation is a key stage; by planning something to look forward to, no matter what your circumstances, you bring happiness into your life well before the event actually takes place.

Gretchen Rubin

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Everyone deserves something to look forward to.

No matter what your circumstances are, knowing that the future ahead holds something bright can lift you every single day until that event - especially when you give yourself the time to fully prepare.

Maybe you’re familiar with what happens when you don’t prepare?

You take time off, only to arrive on the first day of your vacation:

Completely exhausted from packing last minute late into the night
Thinking about emails you didn’t get to send before logging out
Without the faintest idea of where you are actually located - or how you even got there?

Or maybe you’re on top of all of the logistics, but struggle with that nagging sense that the time you take off is never quite enough for you to truly unwind. After all, it takes 1-2 days to prepare, 1+ days to travel, 3-4 days to fully “arrive”, 6-7 days to shift time zones, and then.. vacation is already over.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

This July in The Flow State, we’re focusing on what you can do to prepare to take time off - whether that’s a vacation, staycation, family visit, or simply a well-deserved weekend - so that you truly enjoy yourself, and come back inspired, refreshed, and ready for what’s next.

Tips for Preparing to Take Time Off (So You Actually Enjoy Yourself)

Taking time off joyfully begins with making plans that you actually look forward to. Once you set these plans, focusing on the process of getting ready can help you set the tone for arriving in the moment you’ve been waiting for. Here are a few simple tips to help you prepare for taking that well-deserved time off:

1. Focus On Most Important Tasks Before You Leave

Before you log out for a longer break, don’t get trapped in the spiral of unfinished to-dos that just “must” get done before you leave, or - what, exactly? Ask yourself what you really need to do before you leave. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, work through would realistically happen if you didn’t finish this task. This is a great time to use the Most Important Task prioritization method to narrow your focus and ease anxiety.

2. Set Your Email Auto-Responder

This is one of my personal favorite rituals, as someone who clearly spends a lot of time writing emails! I find great closure in writing a thoughtful email auto-response and setting it well before I actually leave work for the dates I’ll be away. Make sure to include when you’ll be back, and who you’re delegating responsibilities to in your absence. If you’re in a demanding workplace and receive mail at all hours, you can also set auto-responders for specific times of the day to protect your rest and give instructions for truly urgent contact.

3. Talk About What You’re Looking Forward To

According to the happiness expert and New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, there are a few stages to actually enjoying a happy event - be that a vacation, or otherwise:

1. Anticipation: Planning and looking forward to it
2. Savoring: Enjoying it in the moment
3. Expression: Sharing your pleasure with others
4. Reflection: Looking back on happy times

Anticipation - and, I would add, imagination - are essential to every element of enjoyment that follows. So, talk about what you’re looking forward to with your travel partners, friends and family! Get detailed. Imagine what it will be like. Pick a restaurant you’ll love. And get others in on the mood you’re setting.

Plan Ahead with the Simplish App

Simplish is a beautiful day planning app packed with tools to help you document everything you need to do, from daily to-dos to planning vacations. Create and manage to-do lists, delegate tasks in shared workspaces, and sync the app to your work, personal and family calendars to get a total overview of your commitments - and keep your head clear when the day is done.