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So it happened again…I’m on vacation, or PTO as it is called now, and someone from work just had to contact me. Not an emergency, simply someone waiting until the last possible minute to accomplish an inane matter that could have been completed for the holidays. Welcome to the modern world.
In this day and age, the electronic gizmos we use are both a blessing and a curse. 24/7 email and telephone mean we can reach anyone, anywhere at anytime.
A few years ago, I had a job that demanded 24 hour access…I worked in critical care and phone calls/emails required urgent answers because someone was seriously ill. After 11 years of never having an uninterrupted vacation, I was burned out. Today, it seem many jobs and managers expect their employees to be available all the time even if the “matter of life and death” work situation is simply a need to verify an appointment that is weeks away. Technology makes it easy for people to wait until the last minute to complete tasks or meet deadlines…no planning necessary, just email that request to have a task completed in 24 hours. The excuse: “Sorry I know you were on vacation, er, PTO, but I need it now because I didn’t plan and I’m overwhelmed….” My thoughts: “You’re really selfish and presumptuous to think I have nothing else planned or going on…Sure I could drop everything, but no, I don’t think so.”
The culture has changed. Once we called our time away from work “vacation;” it meant people had permission and were expected to be off the clock in order to return rested and relaxed. Today it’s called PTO or “paid time off” meaning “good luck if you think you can get away we own you all the time.”
Some managers and co-workers respect others’ time off by waiting until the person returns before contacting them. However, email, voicemail and cellphones make it easy to bother someone anytime. There are those who relish being needed 24/7 and those who must be reached all the time like physicians, cops and first responders. But everyone needs time away. Here are a few tips to set borders:
1. Take a tech break. At least an hour a day, shut off your computer, phone etc. This will give you a chance to recoup and regroup
2. When you go on vacation (assuming you don’t have one of those jobs that requires 24/7 attention) shut off your phone or get an additional cellphone number. I have a work cellphone and personal cellphone. I never give the personal number to work colleagues.
3. Set expectations. Avoid checking and responding to work related matters when you are on vacation. If you pick up the phone or return a message, then the expectation has been set that you are willing to work during vacation.
4. Go to a cell free resort like Miraval. One of my favorite spas, Miraval restricts cell phone use to one’s room or parking lot, thus allowing one to focus on relaxation.
5. Be firm and plan ahead. It is easy to give in to the corporate guilt trip that one needs to work all the time. Your time is your time. You’ve earned it. The inability to step away from work leads to burn out. Plan ahead and have a back up plan; rely on a trusted co-worker to help.
This year, resolve to make and take more time for you. You’ll be surprised at how much doing so will empower, energize and enlighten your mood.
