Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a vacation, only to cut your experience short? Deciding to return home early to offset certain responsibilities (like laundry and grocery shopping) that impact the stress of returning to back work? Thus turning what should be a time of relaxation and rejuvenation into a source of anxiety.
I’ve been guilty of this more times than I’d like to admit and I wrote a travel guide emphasizing enjoying the entire journey, from start to finish (warts and all). And yet, I’ve found myself cutting a vacation, or even simply a weekend getaway, short to get home and prepare for the work week ahead. This decision (or argument with my husband) is self-rationalized as necessary to reduce (self-imposed) stress, instead of enjoying my time away—inherently designed to reduce stress.
Picture the scene: You've finally carved out time for that much-needed vacation. Time that already feels too precious to give to yourself for the expressed intent of enjoyment. The beach is calling, the mountains are whispering, or perhaps a bustling city awaits your exploration. So you go and initially, you’re having a great time.
You somehow successfully switch your brain off, even if you haven’t silenced your inbox notifications. But as the days (or sometimes only hours) pass, the dread of returning to a mountain of work begins to overshadow your enjoyment. You begin to consider cutting your trip short to get a head start on those looming, omnipresent responsibilities. Ultimately, you end up creating a cycle of stress that diminishes the value of your time off.
Reframing Work-Life Balance to Travel-Life Balance
Work-life balance is a term that gets tossed around, almost carelessly these days, especially in corporate settings. In some cases, the very companies that lure you to work for them, boasting of a work-life balance culture, contribute most heavily to you deciding to cut your trip short. Because the company cares about you, therefore you should prioritize being available and prepared for them, even if it cuts into your personal time or enjoyment.
Work-life balance is more than a corporate catchphrase, it’s paramount to our mental health. When we blur the lines too much between work and personal time, we risk burnout and decreased productivity, not only at the office but in our personal life as well.
Cutting a trip short, especially when a friend, partner, or family is involved affects them too—often negatively. And for kids, subliminally they may pick up on these practices, implementing them into their lives down the road. This "early return" cycle contributes to an overall mental health imbalance, making it harder to recharge and return to work, life, and relationships feeling refreshed.
Instead of work-life balance, try reframing your time away in terms of Travel-Life Balance.
Strategies for Travel-Life Success
Set Boundaries Before You Go
Communicate: Inform your team, clients, or friends about your vacation plans in advance. This includes pet and house sitters if applicable.
Delegate Tasks: If necessary, delegate responsibilities to ensure that work continues smoothly in your absence.
Set Up an Out-of-Office Reply: Clearly state your availability and provide alternative contacts for urgent matters.
Silence Your Notifications: This might be easier said than done but you can’t be fully present in your new environment with one eye always on your inbox. You just can’t.
Clean Before You Leave: There’s nothing better than returning home to a clean home, washed bedding, and an empty laundry basket after a fun-filled getaway! This also reduces the stress of returning home to a to-do list—because it’s all done!
Shop Before You Leave: For quick getaways, two or three days, clear out your fridge of soon-to-be or expired items, and purchase a few fresh provisionals you’ll want upon your return (like half-and-half and fresh coffee). This way, come Monday morning, you’ll be better prepared to start your day and can organize your thoughts for the week.
This isn’t all to say, the best-planned intentions can’t go awry. The "early return" challenge is real and rooted in past experiences (and perhaps even trauma), but it doesn't have to be a permanent part of your travel life.
By understanding the psychological factors at play and implementing strategies for better TRAVEL-LIFE balance, you can more fully enjoy your vacations (from start to finish) and return refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges.
Take the first step towards a balanced travel-life. Enjoy the entire journey.
What experiences or tips for maintaining a healthy travel-life balance do you have? I'd love for you to share in the comments below.
Happy Travels!
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Do you have a friend or colleague who could benefit from a gentle persuasion to reframe work-life balance to TRAVEL-life balance? If you found this article helpful or interesting, I'd be honored for you to share it with them.
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