4 Tips for a Less Stressful Vacation

4 Tips for a Less Stressful Vacation

4 Tips for a Less Stressful Vacation

Experts explain ways to leave stress behind when you take off for that much needed holiday.

Vacation Buster No. 3: Work Woes

According to a 2006 CareerBuilder.com survey, one in four workers plan to work while on vacation. At the same time, a 2006 Expedia.com poll shows 23% of people have checked work email or voicemail while on vacation.

John Weaver, PsyD, a psychologist and owner of Psychology for Business, says many workers feel pressured to get more done without having enough time to do it all. As a result, a lot of people give up vacation time and ultimately surrender the days to employers.

If people do use vacation time, they end up taking laptops, PDAs, cell phones, and other work items with them on the trip. The CareerBuilder.com survey found 16% of workers feel guilty about missing work while on vacation, and 7% fear the days off could lead to unemployment.

The constant expectation to work has had a negative effect on the workforce, contributing to high rates of depression and anxiety.

"The most expensive cost for business today is depression," says Weaver, referring to the 1999 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, which places the indirect costs of untreated mental health disorders at $79 billion per year. The high cost of depression, he says, is 70% more than the cost of the next highest health care cost, which is diabetes.

With all the alarming statistics, it's easy to lose hope. To ease the situation, Weaver makes these suggestions:

• Have an ongoing dialogue with your employer. Discuss how important it is for you to have dedicated time for work, and dedicated time off to rejuvenate. Such conversations can happen informally, in employee review sessions, or in town hall meetings.
• Set boundaries while on vacation. If you have to take work with you, limit the amount of time you are online, on call, or laboring to one to two hours per day. Do not let work creep into every aspect of your leisure time.
• Review your job. If you've tried to improve your work-vacation situation and things still don't change, it may be time to consider how much you want to stick with your current employer, job, or industry. Ask yourself whether your situation is worth the risk of burnout.