Taking the time to fully disconnect

It’s easy to get sucked into work and everyday life. There is always once more project, one more task to finish, one more meeting to setup … and suddenly it’s been more than 6 months (or 2 years) that you have taken a proper time off. Taking the time to disconnect can feel more like a luxury than a necessity—but in reality, it’s crucial for long-term well-being and productivity.

To avoid burnout and make sure I get true downtime, I decided to take one week off every quarter and one two-week holiday per year. Breaking up the year this way helps me stay refreshed, even during busy seasons. Planning in advance not only makes this feasible but also helps ease any anxiety about work piling up while I’m away.

I am just back from my two-week holiday and even though it was hard to not think about work in the first few days, being completely disconnected was amazing. Here’s the steps I followed:

• Set Boundaries Before You Go: Before my holiday, I made sure everyone on my team—managers, colleagues, direct reports—knew I’d be entirely offline. I’m lucky that my company supports this level of disconnection, but even if they didn’t, I’d still make it a priority. Establishing coverage for my tasks and aligning on goals helped everyone know what to expect, and it reassured me that things would run smoothly in my absence.
• Over-Communicate Your Plan: I reminded my team several times that I’d be unavailable and set expectations that I wouldn’t be checking Slack or email. Consistent communication helped everyone understand and respect my offline time. It also minimized the chances that anyone would try to reach me, which allowed me to unplug with fewer worries.
• Cut Off Notifications Completely: When my holiday officially started, I turned off all notifications from work-related apps like Slack and email. While I kept the apps on my phone in case of an emergency, muting them helped reduce my temptation to check in. If removing the apps altogether works better for you, go for it! Personally, I found that after the first couple of days, work drifted out of my mind, and I could fully enjoy my time off.

Conclusion: Make Disconnecting a Priority

Taking time to fully disconnect might feel challenging at first, especially if you’re used to staying plugged in and available 24/7. But trust me, the benefits are worth it. Being truly offline—without the constant ping of notifications—gave me the chance to recharge my energy and rediscover what matters most outside of work. Whether you decide to take a short quarterly break or plan a longer holiday, prioritizing this time for yourself is essential.

Remember, work will always be there when you return, but the moments you spend disconnected—exploring, relaxing, or just enjoying the present—are invaluable. So go ahead, set those boundaries, mute those notifications, and allow yourself to experience the world beyond the screen. Your well-being and productivity will thank you for it.