7 Things to Do on Vacation to Make You a More Effective Leader

It’s not easy to take time off, especially if you’re a leader at your company. Doing so requires careful planning and the confidence that other members of your team can handle whatever comes up in your absence.

But vacation is essential to maintaining work-life balance and health: it can boost your happiness levels and lower your risk of heart disease. 

It can also make you a better leader. Here are seven things you can do in your time away that will contribute to better performance when you get back.

1. Disable Work Notifications

Going on a vacation isn’t easy for small business leaders. There’s an understandable fear that your team won’t be able to handle an emergency in your absence. And that could have serious consequences for your bottom line.

In other words, taking a vacation requires you to trust in your team and in yourself – that you prepared everything your company might need in advance.

Completely unplugging from your work while you’re gone may feel downright terrifying. But it’s important to make the effort. Why?

Silencing work notifications helps ensure you get the rest you need to recharge while also providing your employees with opportunities to step up and grow.

With this growth comes opportunities for you: when you return, you can confidently delegate more, freeing you up to focus on higher-level tasks.

2. Read a Novel

Almost a quarter of American adults say they haven’t read a book in the past year.

If you’re on that list, take yourself off it and read a novel. It’s one of the best things to do on vacation for reducing stress levels and boosting your emotional intelligence, or EQ.

EQ is a core feature of effective leadership – empathetic leaders engage their teams 44 percent more than less emotionally intelligent leaders. So hone your leadership skills by enjoying a compelling page-turner.

For book recommendations, we suggest checking out this great, searchable list from NPR. Or you can visit a website like BookBub that personalizes reading suggestions for its users.

Not interested in fiction? Read our roundup of books that help you improve your management skills.

3. Sleep More

A 2017 study revealed that 42 percent of business leaders don’t get enough sleep. Losing sleep hurts your ability to think clearly, which can lead to poor judgment and even unfair treatment of your team members.

Use your vacation to make up for the sleep you’ve lost.

Sleeping seven to nine hours a night helps you stay healthy, which is crucial when you want to build resilience. And when you return from vacation rested, the hours you spend in the office are more productive.

4. Try Something New

Trying something new broadens your horizons and leads to higher levels of happiness. So use your vacation to embrace new possibilities.

Practice by doing something as simple as…

• Ordering a dish you don’t recognize.

• Wandering aimlessly for an afternoon.

• Testing out the basics of a new language.

Whatever you decide to do, remind yourself the stakes are low. There’s no better time to try something new than on a vacation.

Worst case, your server points you to a real estate office because instead of asking for berries (baya), you accidentally asked to move someplace else (vaya). Heck, maybe you should spend the afternoon checking out open houses – if nothing else, it'll make for a great story.

5. Seek Out Rejection

Most paths to success involve a fair amount of rejection. Acclimating yourself to it empowers you to take bigger swings and more calculated risks.

Understandably, this is easier said than done. After all, rejection is uncomfortable. It’s why we tend to avoid it.

But the fear of rejection can prevent you from pursuing what you want (more pay, bigger clients, etc.). 

Hearing the word “no” is a vital part of your growth as a leader and as a person. So practice facing rejection on your vacation.

Try to negotiate the price of your jet ski rental, for example. Or try to bargain for a late hotel checkout at no extra cost. Sure, you might get a  “no.” But you might also get a “yes,” which means you could get some extra sleep before your trip home.

6. Start Conversations with Strangers

Interact with the people around you, from locals to fellow vacationers.

Exposure to new perspectives and ideas makes you a better leader and – more importantly – a better person. There’s a reason diverse workplaces outperform non-diverse ones.

More ideas are a good thing.

No, your vacation isn’t an extended networking event. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it to learn from others.

Immersing yourself in a new culture empowers you to reflect on your own priorities and customs. Consider if there’s anything you’d like to change, either for yourself or your business. The result could be well worth the effort.

7. Do Nothing

That’s right, don’t do anything. Studies show that boredom helps promote creativity.

Whether you’re sitting on the beach or in your room, let your mind wander – leave the book on your nightstand.

See where your boredom leads you. Maybe you remember something important. Maybe you decide to go on a walk. Or maybe you try your hand at painting and realize how much you enjoy it.

There’s no right or wrong option here. Your vacation is an opportunity to recharge your body and mind. Doing nothing is a great way to accomplish that goal.

Make Vacations a Priority for Your Organization by Taking Them Yourself

A Harvard study of CEOs found that leaders who elected to take vacations worked during 70 percent of them. That sends a clear signal that rest is not important, which can set the stage for burnout among your team.

As you book time off this summer, think of it as one more way you can lead by example, demonstrating the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

If you’re looking for an office space that meets your work-life needs, book a tour to see if Firmspace is right for you.