A lot of short vacations will benefit you more than a single long vacation. Instead of taking three weeks off in a row, consider taking a week off every four months, including two weekends. What about 15 weeks out of the year when you take a Friday off to go on a three-day trip? This means that you will have the most negligible impact on your work while receiving the most assistance!
Are you constantly swamped with critical work at the last minute, just before you leave for your vacation? The majority of us fail to plan for a break. Make a week's worth of pre-vacation to-dos, including tasks to be handed over, communication with people, and completing urgencies a day before your vacation.
Always communicate your absence to your manager, coworkers, and clients. Share your strategy for who will handle emergencies, communication, and deliverables. Get everyone's buy-in and input so they don't bother you with trivial issues. Let them know how to reach you in case of an emergency.
While attempting to limit the impact of your vacation at the office, delegate control of the break to co-travellers. Do not try to do everything on your own. Once the dates are set, delegate the planning and thinking to others, including travel itineraries, activities, budgeting, and ticketing.
If you, too, have pushed vacations to the bottom of your priority list, it's time to admit that it's just as important as good nutrition and exercise.
