How to unplug from work and set boundaries while on vacation

There’s no greater joy than setting off on a vacation, whether it’s by yourself or with loved ones. With the kind of work lives most of us lead, this is the ultimate way to slow down and switch off from those never-ending task lists. 

But do we really do that? 

In a work culture that almost always screams urgency, it’s hard to disconnect from work even when we are on a break. Whether it’s those messages on the office WhatsApp groups or emails from an important client—the itch to respond immediately is palpable.

Anxiety prevails not just during the vacation but also before we take off. Many employees are tempted to work for long hours or overnight to ensure everything is taken care of before they leave. The result? A burnout. 

That’s what Tarasha Das (name changed to protect identity), a sales professional from Chennai, faces all the time. Every time she’s on a holiday–even if it’s just for a few days–she can’t help but check emails and respond to texts from her superiors. When it’s time to get back to work, she never feels rejuvenated. In fact, there’s a sense of dissatisfaction in her.  

“It’s not like I haven’t tried but it’s quite natural for me to get absorbed with work even when I am on a holiday. Every time a task is assigned to me by my boss, I cannot refuse. There’s a fear that I will lose my job if I say ‘no’,” she tells YS Life. 

Das isn’t alone. Nor is her fear new. 

Neelima Chakara, Executive Coach and Founder of PurposeLadder, a coaching organisation that aims to increase the capacity and effectiveness of executives, says, “As I coach people, I hear many stories of employees wearing the ‘I am indispensable’ badge. Sometimes, this badge truly comes from the belief that the world will end if they aren't available.”

“On other occasions, it is rooted in the fear that they may miss out on something or lose out against their peers,” she adds. 

The best way to deal with this situation is to exercise boundaries while you are on a holiday, advise wellness experts. 

Guilt and low self-worth 

There are many reasons why employees think they need to be in an ‘always on’ mode.  

Chakara points out that it could be due to a prevailing culture of disrespect in the organisation, poor management skills of bosses, or the inability to set boundaries by the individual in question. 

In most cases, there is a common denominator among employees—a low sense of self-worth that pushes them to go on without breaks. 

“When one’s profession becomes a core part of their identity, separating from work becomes difficult. It can cause purposelessness, anxiety, identity crisis, and guilt leading to downward spiral,” points out Devisha Batra, Senior Psychologist and Manager at IWill, an AI-based mental health and wellness platform. 

“All the feelings emerge from internalised thoughts about productivity and the definition around work or pressure from the society,” she adds. 

In such a scenario, taking a break seems impossible and people fall into an endless loop of what-ifs. 

What if I fall behind?’

What if people around me stop valuing what I do?

What if I start earning less?

Rohit Parashar, a freelance content specialist based in Bengaluru, is constantly plagued by such thoughts. While he works independently, there is no flexibility in his schedule. He has multiple assignments to take care of on most days–sometimes way beyond his capacity. 

Every time he wants to take a break, the thought of losing his clients overpowers him. Even if he manages to go on leave, he’s constantly on his phone trying to appease clients, which has taken a toll on his mental health. 

“As the breadwinner of my family, I have many responsibilities. So, even when I want to unplug for a few days, I struggle with it because of the fear that I will stop earning. I face stress and anxiety all the time and I am unsure how to deal with the situation,” he confesses. 

A break is necessary

Batra advises professionals to focus on the benefits of taking a break to avoid feeling guilty. 

There are also certain strategies that can help employees feel more secure when they decide to set off on a holiday. 

But before we get to that, it is important to define the break as it may differ from person to person. For some, it’s about completely detaching from work while others attend to only urgent calls. 

“This (defining) would help them understand what’s beneficial and what’s not, which will eventually provide clarity,” insists Batra. 

The power of boundaries

For most people, the fear of their company turning against them prevents them from unplugging. 

Purushottam Jangir, Head of HR Operations and CSR, Dana India, an auto components major, believes disconnecting from work while on vacation sounds a lot easier than it is. 

“No organisation or society can ever operate at two extremes—there is always interdependence and co-existence. Now the question arises—how do we balance it so that a fair amount of justice is done to both our personal or professional lives?” he questions. 

Chakara suggests some simple boundaries for employees to follow. 

To begin with, one must plan their vacation in advance. This will not just enable employees to get their time-off approved by superiors but it will also help them plan how their deliverables will be addressed when they are away. 

“What will you take care of in advance before you leave? What will you delegate to a team member or colleague? What can you do to ensure that whoever you are delegating to can do justice to the work while you are away? Collaborate with your boss to create this plan,” Chakara advises. 

The next step is to inform all stakeholders of the period one won’t be available for, and convey whom they can fall back on in their absence, she adds. 

Fortunately, companies are now realising the impact of employee burnout on productivity and going the extra mile to ensure they normalise practices like taking a vacation. 

The leadership at Encora, a digital engineering services company, believes that uninterrupted vacation time isn’t simply a perk, it is also a strategic investment in their team members. 

“Strong vacation boundaries allow individuals to fully recharge, fostering innovation that becomes the driving force behind any organisation’s success. When team members see colleagues disconnecting with confidence and returning revitalised, it sets a powerful example,” shares Anitha Sarathy, India Head, People and Culture, Encora. 

The last word 

While switching off from work is important on a break, one may make an exception during a crisis, when your team requires your expertise. 

“If it is easy and quick, you can get it done in minutes. If it is long and requires a bit of your time, a strategic plan can be made on how you can invest your time depending upon your trip schedule,” says Batra. 

It’s equally essential to take it slow and not dive headlong into work right after you are back to avoid being overwhelmed. 

“Consider using the first day to catch up on reading mails, making a list of tasks to be done each day before heading to regular workload. By doing this, there would be time available to relax and enjoy things besides professional commitments,” suggests Batra.