Before You Take Time Off For A Holiday, Make A Plan To Use It Effectively

Before you plan a holiday, productivity blog Lifehack suggests deciding what you want to get out of your free time first. This way, you’re better able to use your time effectively.

Photo by gfpeck.

Sometimes being away from work is all about giving yourself space to do entertaining things. Other times, you’re so burned out that holiday time only gives you a week’s respite before you get right back to the problem. Lifehack suggests using some of that free time to combat the actual issue:

Knowing what you want from your time off means you are more likely to get it. If you can identify the needs that you want to meet beforehand, you are far more likely to be able to meet those needs (and therefore take quality time off), than if you’re unaware of what you want to get out of your break.

As well as focusing on needs, your intention might revolve around an activity or experience. For example, if you have been feeling stressed about the clutter in your home, you might think about using this weekend to meet your need for cleanliness and order by clearing out the living room. When you have that kind of intention in mind, you avoid spending your time off on autopilot, doing things that aren’t really meeting your current needs.

Whether that involves cleaning up your home, catching up on that giant pile of email, or completing a project that’s been left unfinished for days, setting aside even a day or two to take care of the things that are hanging in the back of your mind can enable you to enjoy the rest of your time off, and be much more effective when you head back to work. Check out Lifehack’s article for more ways to make the most of your free time.

5 Tips for Taking Quality Time Off [Lifehack]