Do you need to switch off on holiday to unwind?

It is hard to get away from it all these days. Even in some of the remotest spots, there is still a mobile signal. This means it is tempting to take a peek at your inbox, and before you know it you are sending off work emails. Instead of focusing on the beauty of your surroundings, your mind is instantly transported back to the office environment.

However, not everyone believes that checking up on work is necessarily a bad thing on holiday. Knowing what’s going on can help you to relax says Peter Jacob, EMEA new business director at PR firm Weber Shandwick: “By keeping an eye on things, it reduces the stress when you return from holiday and you don’t have the wade through several hundred emails.

“By monitoring messages, you can come back to work knowing what has happened and what might need actioning. Of course that’s all very well in theory – the evil glances and occasional moan from my wife does quickly remind me that it will still be there when I get back. However, many a time a happy holiday has been enhanced by news of a large new client win which merits the ordering of an extra large cocktail on the sun lounger, with a bendy straw of course!”

It is particularly hard for business owners to switch off, which is perhaps why it is more important for them to do so. Rassami Hok Ljungberg, director of PR agency Rassami, is determined to take a proper break this year. She is adamant that this means not being contactable, or she might end up snapping at her clients: “I have stopped worrying about what's going to happen in September when I am back from holidays. I am telling all my clients this and if they don't like it, well, they will have to go somewhere else. If I don't take some proper time off this year (a first since running my own business) I am seriously going to be rude to someone eventually! Time off and quiet time is absolutely necessary for perspective, motivation and inspiration."

Rick Guttridge, managing director of agency Smoking Gun PR, agrees that complete breaks are essential to keep the creative streak alive and the unending enthusiasm required in PR. He adds: “The older you get, the more important this appears to become and I know lots of peers who run agencies who swear by a break at least every three months to stay on top of their game.” Guttridge says that the best holiday he ever had for relaxing and recharging was on an island with no phone reception and where the resort motto was “no shoes, no news“.

Debate

Should you be available even when you’re on holiday?

Maxine Ambrose, partner at agency Ambrose Communications, says you should:

“It is important to make sure that the right support network is in place: I always have someone well briefed acting as the temporary front line while I’m holiday. They can deal with most things, but that person and the client both know that if need be, I’m contactable. That way, clients are reassured that I’ve not dropped off the face of the earth and likewise, I’m reassured that if anything blew up, I’d hear about it and be able to react.”

Juliet Bernard, owner of agency Bluebear PR, says it‘s good to be unavailable:

“Last year was the first time in years I had turned off my emails while on holiday. I know this sounds pathetic, but when you run a small business it’s not always possible to shut yourself off. I was dreading it and assumed the world would end if people couldn’t contact me. I was able to veg out completely with the family and had a wonderful time. Just to get some distance and perspective is so valuable and helped me get my creative bounce back.”

Written by Daney Parker