A few weeks ago, my family and I went for a vacation in Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness cabins. As a true-blue, self-proclaimed workaholic, the timing of this vacation wasn’t right – the week is the end of one of our routinely busy work week, which happens every two weeks and I will be off for three long days while promising myself not to work during this vacation. After all, it’s my 21st wedding anniversary. This precious moment in time does not happen everyday or won’t happen again I should say, because the next year will be 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th and so forth until forever!
I had to think hard on how I can make this work for me and my family without dreading the fact of coming back, knowing that I will have to address concerns when I come back. I was already thinking of the tons of emails I will receive and the amount of work I have to do when I come back since this vacation will cause a backlog.
Don’t get me wrong, I have a great team with me and I have a counterpart, well actually counterparts – two team members covering for me, while I am away but still.. you know what I mean. Additionally, this is the first time since December 2020, during Christmas time last year, that I really went for days off (intentionally). I would always request for time off but eventually putting it off because I know there are things at work that I just can’t let go.
Yes, “I can’t let go”. Those exact words are the words my son told me when I said I have work to do. As an old soul as he has always been, he was right, I have to let go and celebrate an important milestone in my life.
In the book written by Robert Iger, CEO of Walt Disney Company for 15 years, “You have to approach work and life with a sense of genuine humility”. In a broader sense, the work you do is a part of all the efforts a team can do. That’s why I said, yes, I am letting go.
Truly it is, our family had a great vacation. Finally, we were able to watch the four-hour “Justice League” movie, which we have always wanted to watch together (yes, four hours! who has that luxury to do that everyday!), we longer hours talking about anything and most of all, not guilty of sleeping in! I guess it’s true, “Happiness comes from not having to set your alarm clock!”
When I got back from work, I was expecting to have more than 300 emails since I have a range of 150 to 200 emails a day, but lo and behold – I have less than 50 solid work-related emails.
Here are three key points of the things I have done differently during this vacation:
1. Trust and confidence with your team: I emphasized to our teams the tasks needed to complete and empowered each team member, including who they can reach out to, in case they need guidance while I am away. I have always empowered our teams to own their projects; this was an easier task. This is also the first step of letting go.
2. Communication: Before I left for my vacation, I communicated to our teams that I will be off for three days with limited access to emails and phone. I firmly directed our teams to call my counterparts instead for any concerns. For our stakeholders, I specifically stated in my out of office message who can be their go-to person during my absence. This was so effective – I did not receive any text messages or phone calls from work at all during my vacation.
3. Transparency: I think the best part of the strategy is that I shared my reason why I am taking days off. In my out of office email, I specifically mentioned, “I am celebrating my 21st Wedding Anniversary!” I got email messages back from colleagues after their main agenda saying “Happy Anniversary!”, which made the message more meaningful to me. I told myself, why not – I spend 10 to 12 hours a day at work for five days, more than the time I spend at home on weekdays; my colleagues deserve to know why I am away. Besides, it’s a happy celebration I want to share! My workplace cares for me like family, they deserve the transparency too.
Work and life balance is crucial to everyone’s success. While it is important to accomplish your team’s goal at work, it is equally important to care for yourself and your family to refresh, recharge and rejuvenate.
After all, we all do the hard work for our family and for ourselves. We all deserve that focused and well-spent vacation with the people who matters most.