{"658484":{"#nid":"658484","#data":{"type":"news","title":"10 Tips to Unplug on Vacation ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMemorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and the beginning of vacation season. For some, a vacation is a time to relax and completely disconnect from the daily pressures of work. For those who find unplugging more difficult or even impossible, Joi Alexander, director of Health Initiatives, and Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, director of the Center for Assessment, Referral, and Education (CARE), suggest 10 tips to unplug.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERecognize that you need and deserve a vacation.\u003C\/strong\u003E Taking a vacation is a method to honor and take care of yourself and prioritize self-care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESet expectations with supervisors, colleagues, clients, and others. \u003C\/strong\u003EMake sure you communicate that when you are on vacation you will not respond immediately. Utilize your out-of-office email reply to inform individuals you are not in the office and the date of your return. Include the name of someone to contact in case of emergency.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStart a mindfulness practice in the morning and before bed\u003C\/strong\u003E that will help you relax during the day.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAvoid multitasking.\u003C\/strong\u003E Minimize or close your email program, chat logs, and news or entertainment websites so you can focus and be present.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESet up a time during the day to detox and get away from the digital world. \u003C\/strong\u003ERead a book, write in a journal, explore nature, or practice mindfulness and meditation.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt can be tempting to check your work email while on vacation. \u003C\/strong\u003EThe simplest way to avoid this is by turning off all work-related notifications. If you are one of those people who feel you should always be checking work emails, set up specific, limited times to check in each day.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETry to avoid \u0026ldquo;checking in\u0026rdquo; with your colleagues\u003C\/strong\u003E, as this opens the opportunity for you to be available for work and creates unrealistic expectations for you and your team while you are on vacation.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConsider a staycation.\u003C\/strong\u003E If you truly can\u0026rsquo;t get away for an extended period, proactively schedule more long weekends that will still feel like a break and well-deserved time away. And make sure you actually unplug from work.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMake yourself accountable to others. \u003C\/strong\u003EAsk your family, friends, and co-workers to call you out if they catch you working. Unplugging could be new and a little uncomfortable for you, and sharing this with others allows you to solidify your commitment.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFor the final tip, Alexander suggests practicing self-compassion. \u0026ldquo;Due to our heavy reliance on technology, you may find it challenging to unplug so take it one step at a time,\u0026rdquo; she said. \u0026ldquo;Give yourself grace and don\u0026rsquo;t feel guilty for unplugging.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHughes-Troutman added that the best way to unplug is to plan a vacation that demands your full attention. \u0026ldquo;Make plans that include what you truly enjoy. It is much easier to avoid your electronics if you are genuinely engaged in your vacation.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIf you are traveling, it is best practice to test for Covid-19 when you return to ensure it is safe to return to work. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/health.gatech.edu\/coronavirus\/testing\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech continues to offer asymptomatic Covid-19 testing on campus this summer\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDisconnecting from work can be a challenge, but it is possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Disconnecting from work can be a challenge, but it is possible. "}],"uid":"27713","created_gmt":"2022-05-25 12:36:21","changed_gmt":"2022-05-25 13:35:29","author":"Victor Rogers","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2022-05-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2022-05-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"658485":{"id":"658485","type":"image","title":"Unplugged","body":null,"created":"1653482906","gmt_created":"2022-05-25 12:48:26","changed":"1653482942","gmt_changed":"2022-05-25 12:49:02","alt":"Man walking on pathway in the EcoCommons. ","file":{"fid":"249620","name":"DSC_1819.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/DSC_1819.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/DSC_1819.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1026869,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/DSC_1819.jpeg?itok=x7vl_fEb"}}},"media_ids":["658485"],"groups":[{"id":"1317","name":"News Briefs"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4102","name":"vacation"},{"id":"148241","name":"unplug"},{"id":"188110","name":"Joi Alexander"},{"id":"185215","name":"Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"},{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EVictor Rogers\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EInstitiute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["victor.rogers@comm.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}