Unplug Like a Boss
Let’s replace that laptop with a beach read and you’ve got it made in the shade.
Truly logging off (and why your team needs you to)
Summer has officially kicked off for the Luminal team! These first two weeks of July are our full-out vacation – a chance to truly unplug, reset the body and brain connection, and embrace all the parts of life that have nothing to do with the 9 – 5.
We take this time joyfully, but with a side of trepidation. For many managers and leaders, the thought of taking real time off (we mean actual unplugged time) sparks more anxiety than relaxation.
This makes sense! You’re dedicated. You care deeply about your team and your organization’s mission (and if you’re honest with yourself, it’s probably hard to put down the balls you’re juggling and let someone else pick them up.) But the thing is, when you log off fully during your vacation, you’re not only reviving and preserving your own wellbeing - you’re modeling healthy boundaries and habits for your entire team.
If you’ve been here for awhile, you know that you, the manager, sets the cultural tone. If you’re answering emails from the beach, your team gets the message that PTO isn’t “real” time off. Modeling healthy detachment for a week or two empowers employees to do the same without guilt.
The other cool thing about time off? It’s a trust-building opportunity for your staff. Trust flourishes when leaders empower others to keep things running. Stepping away demonstrates faith in your team’s abilities and fosters greater ownership and confidence among staff.
And if you’re still not sold on how vital your sacred time off is, a friendly reminder that you are a human with a working brain – not an artificial intelligence machine. Running on empty helps no one. Vacations allow you to reset mentally, physically, and emotionally. When you return, you’re sharper and better equipped to tackle complex challenges.
Are you ready? Let’s ensure you can log off feeling fantastic with a couple of proactive measures.
Set your team up for success
1. Identify your point people
Designate who’s covering which responsibilities in your absence; bonus points if they have handled the tasks in the past. Communicate duty ownership clearly to both the people in charge (so they are prepared to cover for you) and to the staff who may need to turn to these folks for decisions or approvals.
2. Create a “when to escalate” back playbook
Look, we get it: there are a few scenarios in which you’d want to be contacted, even on the most deserted island. Before you go, outline the rare emergencies that warrant interrupting your PTO. Be super clear about how staff can reach you in these instances and ruthless in only responding to those that deserve your vacation attention.
3. Communicate early and often
The thread running through your preparation steps is this: communicate, communicate, communicate! Let staff, peers, and stakeholders know about your dates away well in advance. Don’t forget about people on other teams who you may work with more tangentially.
4. Set an OOO message with clear next steps
In case there is someone you forgot to communicate with (hey, it happens), your out-of-office email needs to give people a next step. Skip, “I’ll reply when I return,” and instead include alternative contacts for people who need you. This is also a great confidence booster for your team, as they’ll see your unwavering confidence in their ability to handle the work.
5. Trust your team (and yourself)
You hired the right people. You’ve taught them to be critical-thinkers and team players. Trust that they’re capable of holding down the fort in your absence. And trust that you’ve done what you need to do to empower them. They (and you) have got this.
A final reminder about PTO
It’s not negotiable! Especially in nonprofit and service sectors, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that the mission will come to a screeching halt if you’re scanning a mountain somewhere. In reality, the mission needs you at your best, and the work will be there when you return.
So go ahead. Pack the sunscreen. Don’t pack your laptop.Trust your capable team. And come back ready to tackle whatever your inbox throws at you upon your return.
