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Do you manage to switch off when on vacation?

by Peter Bestel
19 replies
We're about to go away for a few days. It's a well-deserved break for the three of us, but I can't help feeling a little anxious about being away from the business. Actually it's more like I'll be missing it rather than anxiety but nevertheless.

The whole point of the break IS to get away, so we won't be logging on anywhere by any means, and I'm in complete agreement with this, but...

...there is a little voice in my head that keeps nagging about my to-do list and deadlines. As Heather and I run this business together, I know we'll succumb to lengthy conversations about it - no doubt boring our poor daughter to death, but we'll limit these too, if only for her sake.

How do you cope when on vacation? Do you ever, totally switch off from your business, or do you just HAVE to take your laptop on your holidays?


Peter


P.S. Given what our business is (Stress Management), the irony of this post is not lost on me - but we're all only human!
#manage #switch #vacation
  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    Morning Peter

    Do you manage to switch off when on vacation?
    I know the minimum I need to do while I'm away to have peace of mind. So I actually do that much (maybe 30 mins per day) so I CAN enjoy the rest of the break.

    I've got every gadget known to man to make it easier, and I plan ahead to make sure I'll be able to get online with the minimum of hassle.

    Cheers,

    Neil
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Tunnah
      Originally Posted by Neil Morgan View Post

      Morning Peter



      I know the minimum I need to do while I'm away to have peace of mind. So I actually do that much (maybe 30 mins per day) so I CAN enjoy the rest of the break.

      I've got every gadget known to man to make it easier, and I plan ahead to make sure I'll be able to get online with the minimum of hassle.

      Cheers,

      Neil
      Aha! Not just me than Neil that gets the 'fourth degree' from customs as to why I have a iphone, eee and back-up mobile with me when travelling! 'Hangs head in shame' [:I]

      Rich
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      • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
        This is my last post for a few days as I'm off in a few minutes.

        I remember when I had my manufacturing business, I found it easier to switch off because it was impossible to do anything meaningful on the business when abroad.

        This business, in this day and age, is totally different. I can work on our business from virtually anywhere and there's another crucial difference - I'll really LIKE this business and I honestly get withdrawal symptoms if I'm away from it too long.

        But it's true, I believe you HAVE to get away - and that's what I'm doing.

        Bye for now

        Peter
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  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    Great Topic Peter,

    No I don't switch off. If I'm in NY or other places we vacation I have my LapTop with me and hook up.

    My time away from this IM stuff comes when I'm actually "working." I might be out for 2 or more days while taking care of offline matters. While on vacation I work online every chance I get.

    I guess it's a carry over from my younger days. I'd take the whole family on "vacation," however, I would be doing my regular job, just in another state or a distant CA city. I guess the term "working vacation" fits.

    George Wright
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  • Profile picture of the author David Raybould
    Hi Peter,

    Interesting topic, I've often wondered how other warriors deal with this...

    Personally, I can switch off about 80-90% of the time, but after a while I get "the itch" and have to check in or make some notes on ideas etc.

    Also, I've found that checking your stats every couple of days to see how much money you made while on vacation is not necessarily a bad thing, and can go a long way to allaying any fears you may be getting.

    David
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  • Profile picture of the author Chuck Evans
    What's a vacation!

    The last time I TRIED to take one it was supposed to last a week. I did not take my laptop OR cell phone, just wanted to relax and get away. After two days I couldn't stand it anymore because I knew that would I have hundreds and phone calls to return so I went back home and to work.

    chuck
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  • Profile picture of the author rich85
    I find i am able to switch off as i believe its important to come away and have some family/me time. However my partner who is also part of the business is the complete opposite and has to do at least 30mins a day checking everything and doing little bits of work, but i tend to leave her to it and look after our daughter!

    I suppose i am lucky in this respect though because even though i like to have a holiday and not have anything to so with the business for a short while, my partner takes over so things still get done and no problems arise from not checking on it!

    rich
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  • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
    I took my laptop with me on the last vacation we went to. I managed to just do work at nighttime on the first night.

    The second night...my computer died.

    It forced me to not think about or do any work.

    The result?

    I was much more relaxed and able to focus on my responsibilities when I returned.

    It's called a vacation for a reason I learned my lesson and will never do work on vacation again. (a strange twist of fate that occurred because I was forced to switch off)
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  • Profile picture of the author ahuddy
    Seems to be the sacrifice you take by doing IM. You don't have to go into the office to work, but you are short changed on the relaxing and vacation parts. Last time, I went on vacation I took my laptop but didn't hook it up until the last day before I was about to come back home. I just got everything organized and lined up for when I got home back to work.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim Russ
    I never switch off. My mind is always working. I keep a notebook handy, often a little pocket notebook and a small calculator in case I want to think something through. I don't take a notebook with me, though or I'd just spend all my time in front of it. I can do that at home.
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    • Profile picture of the author johntanyishin
      It's hard to not think about your business when you are on vacation.

      It will be easier if you can delegate your tasks to your partners or somebody trustworthy and then, you carry just a cellphone and call to check periodically just to make sure things are alright.

      But some people will think their business is fun, then just bring your notebook along!

      JTYS
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    • Profile picture of the author Roy Carter
      Hi Peter

      In the bad old days when I had a high street business (very full-on and stressful) i'd go on vacation and be checking in at least once a day, talking to staff etc. My cellphone bill when I got back home really made my eyes water!

      These days things are much calmer. Since I know that the money won't stop coming in while I'm away, that gives a certain amount of comfort and allows me to relax much more.

      Having said that, I will usually check my emails probably once a day to make sure that there are no customer service issues (something I know I should really outsource anyway).

      Roy
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  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    Party at Peter's house
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    • Profile picture of the author jhongren
      I tried to free myself away from my computer during weekends...I successfully did it for the first weekend...

      However I was really tempted to go online to check my emails...and it was then Jeremy reminded me that I should be offline...."oppps got caught red handed.

      I am still persisting and tomorrow is my weekend. I will do my best again not to even get close to my PC.

      I got to learn from Peter to learn to get away from my work. Otherwise I would not be able to survive my 2 weeks trip in Japan soon.

      "Now off to sleep. :p

      Cheers,
      John
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    • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
      I'm back after our weekend break. It was a friend's wedding and a chance to see a bunch of folk that we've not seen in a long time.

      Yes, we did switch off, kind of anyway. So many people wanted to see what we're up these days after having moved away that we probably talked about the business more than we would've done on a normal weekend! But it was very good fun and totally stress free.

      Originally Posted by Neil Morgan View Post

      Party at Peter's house
      LOL. Trust you had a good time, you left the place pretty tidy anyway.

      I wonder how you'd tell if a load of IMers had been in your house? I reckon the food wouldn't have been touched but the beer, wine and coffee supplies seriously depleted. And the content of my browser history's about to become a WSO.

      Peter
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      • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
        No I don't switch off because my IM business is also my hobby. I also get really twitchy if I can't login and check what's happening in IM land.

        I'm told vacations are wasted on me, they probably are when involving lots of sunshine and mozzies. (You can keep them)

        At the moment Bobby is down on the beach taking in the solar flares, it's far to hot for me, so I'm sat on the balcony of our apartment, (out of the sun but overlooking the hotel pool), with a coffee at one hand and a slowly melting bar of chocolate at the other tapping away on my lappie

        Now what could be nicer than that

        Kim

        Originally Posted by Peter Bestel View Post

        I'm back after our weekend break. It was a friend's wedding and a chance to see a bunch of folk that we've not seen in a long time.

        Yes, we did switch off, kind of anyway. So many people wanted to see what we're up these days after having moved away that we probably talked about the business more than we would've done on a normal weekend! But it was very good fun and totally stress free.



        LOL. Trust you had a good time, you left the place pretty tidy anyway.

        I wonder how you'd tell if a load of IMers had been in your house? I reckon the food wouldn't have been touched but the beer, wine and coffee supplies seriously depleted. And the content of my browser history's about to become a WSO.

        Peter
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    Hi Peter,

    I've developed a habit of switching off every day. I give myself time everyday to switch off, think about life and my journey and how I would like to move things forward.

    So when I decide to - I can switch off for a few days without any problem now. I used to leave my Blackberry on but I'd end up doing emails at 3am, so I stopped that and I turn it off completely when I want to chill out.

    Andy
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Ayres
    I have just come back from holiday and i took my laptop with me and allowed myself 1 hour every day to check emails & PMs etc
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  • Profile picture of the author John Rogers
    For me it depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing. If my wife is with me, I generally take the laptop and work a bit in the early morning while she's still sleeping.

    Sometimes it's good to switch off just to interrupt the habitual madness that develops over time. Fishing trips to places with no internet and cell phone service are great for that.

    John
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