Summer Is Here, and With It Comes Vacation Season!
Summer is here, and with it comes vacation season. Most people have already taken a trip and some families are even planning a second one. Vacations provide us a chance to relax and recover from the stresses of normal life, but poor planning can often lead to our return being far more unpleasant than it needs to be.
Rushing Out the Door
All of us have rushed out of the office at some point in our lives. We are in a hurry to get somewhere or maybe we are just in a hurry to shrink our personal responsibilities. This often happens right before we go on vacation. We are excited, tired of waiting, and just want a reprieve from our professional obligations. The thrill of being able to relax consumes us and we do not think about the consequences of our actions. The issue of leaving work incomplete does not bother us when we are living our best lives, but the costs are made painfully apparent upon our return. Vacations are meant to provide temporary relief from our profession. Eventually we must return to work and clean up the mess we made in our hurry to depart. This can sometimes and often does result in frustration upon our return that is avoidable.
Making the Proper Preparations
Summer excursions are typically planned out in great detail. We must make travel arrangements, book a place to stay, and have an idea of what activities we want to enjoy when relaxing. Very few people can just wake up and leave their daily responsibilities. However, we often forget to plan our professional obligations when we make travel plans. We just stop working and let our peers and supervisors deal with the problems we leave behind. What we do not think about is how our coworkers might not have the same information we do and might not know the best course of action in certain situations. This can lead to an unpleasant return to work. Eventually we have to fix whatever issues or problems that occurred when we were gone. There is a way to avoid this unpleasant situation, plan for everything. Spending a few extra hours preparing coworkers or simply communicating with the people who are covering for you can make a huge difference. If we spend time brainstorming, leaving clear directions, letting others know what to expect and what to do in problematic situations we will ensure our return to work will be less stressful and far less concerning.
Issues Always Exist
No matter how much we communicate and plan, ultimately there is always the chance of something unpredictable happening. If we could see the future we would play the lottery, trade stocks, and make large wagers when gambling. However, there is no way to accurately predict the future all the time. The best we can do is make sound predictions and hope for the best. The key to enjoying your vacation is to have a solid plan in place before you leave and not worry about the unpredictable. If something unforeseen does happen there will be a proper time to deal with it. Life is about challenges and how we cope with them matters. We cannot afford to let things beyond our control ruin our rest and relaxation.
Vacations are important. They are how we become closer to our families and loved ones, they are how we relax and rest our minds, and they are how we have fun. Poor planning prior to leaving can have disastrous results upon our return. Do not make the mistake of forgetting to make proper arrangements before departing and do not forget to communicate important information to those who might need it. Spending the extra time preparing will always result in a more pleasant return to work and a more enjoyable vacation.