Do you find it difficult to disconnect from work on vacation? Read this article and discover four proven ways to fully unwind on a holiday.
July 24, 2023 
“I am too busy to go on vacation”… “I can’t miss the month-end.” After months of hard work, you were rightfully excited about your upcoming holiday. And yet, as you saw the days of your calendar taking you closer and closer to the due date, a nagging thought in the back of your mind started to resonate. And there you are, already thinking of canceling your plans because it’s not the right moment—wrong move.
According to scientists, a resort vacation strongly and immediately impacts molecular networks associated with stress and immune pathways. Translation? Taking a break and enjoying time away from work can help reduce stress levels and reinforce your immune system. Moreover, the positive effect on your physical and mental health can last up to 45 days.
With high risks of burnout and exhaustion due to the mere nature of the jobs, unplugging without feeling guilty is an art credit controllers should master. Here are four ways to ease your mind if you consider taking a break.
“Work smarter, not harder” is your motto. Use all the digital tools you can to make your life easier. A few weeks before your departure, take the time to sit down and identify all the tasks and processes you can automate easily and efficiently, then set up the right tools to execute these manual tasks for you. Anticipation is key as it will give you enough time to test and monitor your automated solutions and re-adjust them if necessary. Yes, you could be drinking a cocktail from a fresh coconut in Bali while having an invoice or a payment reminder sent.
Automated credit control solutions streamline invoicing and debt collection and secure and strengthen your relationship with your late-paying customers throughout the collection process. In addition, clearing time on your schedule will help them focus on nurturing your customer relationships and other core activities that will help the business grow even though you are away.
The time before your holiday is of great importance, as it is a moment for you to plan ahead any work that could pile up during your time away. Set the most important deadlines and ensure your team can work in your absence efficiently and autonomously. If you carelessly delegate your tasks, you might overlook important points that will make your handover to your team challenging. You don’t want your business phone to ring while you are away. Your best strategy is to pick one team member to take over duties, be your referent, and take the time to inform them of your current files and reports. Make sure to block at least a day before your holiday to tie up any loose ends and go through your inbox to answer important emails.
Before your departure, prepare an email you will send to your team and colleagues from other departments and a contact list to make your time off known and your boundaries respected. In the email, state the dates you will be off, and do not hesitate to highlight your unavailability via email or phone.
“Dear colleagues,
I will be taking some time away from X to X next week. I have charged X with my ongoing files in my absence since I will not be able to consult my emails or answer my professional mobile phone. If you have any questions, please get in touch with XX, who is in a copy of this email.”
Communicating about your upcoming leave is essential to manage expectations regarding your responsiveness. Otherwise, be prepared to receive emails and phone calls while you are away. Another great tip is to set up a personalised automated “out of office” reply.
Making it public that you will be off and not taking your work phone and computer at the beach is not enough. You have to take action and disconnect completely to avoid temptations. What if your brain feels invigorated by all the rest, and ideas about work popping left and right? Jot them down on paper, but do not open your laptop and get sucked into doing work again.
Taking time off work is essential to your well-being and productivity. In their article “The Data-Driven Case for Vacation”, the Harvard Business Review, in 94% of cases, creating social connections on a trip far from your work revitalises your energy levels and outlook upon returning to work. Credit controllers, who are exposed to daily stress and tight deadlines, should be able to prioritise their mental health. Investing in the right digital tools can be your ultimate strategy to unplug successfully without guilt.
