6 Tips for a Hybrid Vacation

Hybrid work is all the rage right now, but what about hybrid vacations? I hesitate to even talk about the topic because an ideal vacation is one where we can totally unplug from work, rest and recharge. However, for leaders, this is often difficult to accomplish, and the increase in remote work has blurred the lines between business and pleasure.  After recently taking a hybrid vacation myself, I thought I'd share some insights on this topic.

My definition of a hybrid vacation is this - when you choose to go away for a vacation, but still incorporate some remote work into that time.  It is NOT when someone uses their paid time off (PTO) to work, but rather plans in advance to mix work and PTO days.  For those with unlimited PTO, tracking days off becomes a moot point, but the tips below for hybrid vacations still apply. 

So with that, if a leader chooses to combine work and play in the form of a hybrid vacation, here are some tips to consider.

Create a Schedule and Stick to It

Deciding ahead of time when you will work during your vacation and committing to it is important. On a recent hybrid vacation, I decided to work one full day at the beginning of my trip.  This allowed me to concentrate on what I needed to accomplish, knowing I had the rest of the week to relax.  For some of my clients, they choose to check-in on work mid-week to avoid a large dump of unread messages and updates when they return.  Regardless of the hybrid work/vacation schedule you decide, communicating it to your colleagues and sticking to it is important.  Leaving your work schedule to chance during your hybrid vacation sets up the potential for work to hijack your entire time off, changing your hybrid vacation to a remote work trip.

Let Your Travel Partners Know Your Plan Ahead of Time

Letting your travel partner(s) know what you are doing helps to manage expectations and time. Rather than dealing with a comment like, “You’re working again?!  I thought we were on vacation,” you can set the stage so travel partners can plan activities (with or without you) to coordinate with your work schedule.  It is also a great accountability mechanism, increasing your chances of sticking to your plan so that work doesn’t creep into the valuable vacation time.

Find the Right Work Environment

Not every vacation is conducive to being hybrid.  The best ones are those that have a reasonable work environment available.  That usually includes reliable internet access, a decent work surface, and a private area free from most noise and distractions.  For some, it may be a hotel business center or lobby and for others, it may be a table and chair overlooking the beach.  Regardless, planning out your hybrid vacation work environment gives you a better chance of success.

Keep Some Days Sacred

For any leader planning a hybrid vacation, I strongly recommend NOT choosing to work every day.  Doing this can make it feel like you never left work.  Keeping certain days designated as “vacation only” can go a long way in reducing stress and recharging.

Plan to Handle Lighter Work

If there is a big deadline or deliverable due that requires your full attention, it’s probably not the best time to take a hybrid vacation. Our brains have a hard time resting if we know there is something significant we need to finish - especially when others are counting on us. That’s why I recommend choosing lighter work if at all possible.  The definition of lighter work is different for every leader, but here is a way to frame it.  Choose to do work that does not have a strict deadline or create significant stress. In fact, hybrid vacations are often a good time to get to work on important but not urgent strategic items that you don’t have time to do in the hustle of the regular work week.

Stop Checking Your Email / IMs / Text Messages

Many leaders find themselves unintentionally addicted to their email, IMs and other work communication. Deciding to routinely check messages during a vacation may seem like a harmless and helpful thing to do at the time, but it never gives your brain a rest.  Not to mention the fact that if you come upon a message that spikes your stress level right before a fun activity or nice dinner out, it’s hard to immediately switch to a happy mood.  Give yourself a planned break from the constant communication. You will be thankful later and so will your travel partners.

Hybrid vacations  aren’t for everyone, but in today’s world of hybrid work, they are increasing in popularity and tenability.  When done right they can help a leader strike a balance between, rest, enjoyment and productivity.