Planning for Vacation: Why You Need a Real Break (No Email Allowed)

Lance and I have come to deeply value travel. Planning for vacation is our favorite way to connect, recharge, and explore the incredible world we live in.

Most of our longer trips are designed to be “working trips,” meaning we spend  a few hours each day connected to our laptops.  But we always pick an area where we a holiday from our working vacation always and  carve out a few days to truly disconnect. This past adventure, we did exactly that in the stunning, cliffside beauty of Santorini. No email. No Slack. Just us, amazing views, and the sweetest reconnection.

Let’s be real… planning for vacation should be easy. You pack a suitcase, book a flight, and boom! You’re instantly refreshed, right?

Ha! If only.

If you’re anything like me or the high-achievers I know, your body hits the beach, but your brain stays stubbornly glued to your inbox.

Here’s the thing (and it’s important): planning for vacation isn’t optional. It’s essential for actually thriving. It is good for you personally, professionally, and emotionally.

Why Planning for Vacation Is Essential

Your Creative Spark Needs Room to Breathe

Ever have a genius idea in the shower or while zoning out on a walk? Planning for vacation amplifies that magic by taking your brain fully offline from hustle mode. A vacation can help you finally hear your own brilliance again.

Hit the Reset Button on Stress
Proper planning for vacation means creating a real break (where Slack doesn’t sneak into your suitcase) and helping your nervous system breathe again. It reduces stress hormones, recharges your mental batteries, and evicts burnout from your life.

Joy and Productivity Are BFFs
Here’s a paradox: the less you work, the better you work. Planning for vacation ensures you return to your desk clear-headed, energized, and genuinely excited again. Joy isn’t optional—it’s essential.

How to Actually Take a Vacation
Honestly?

Planning for vacation and actually taking it is brave. It means delegating, trusting, and setting boundaries. This includes the uncomfortable ones. But let me tell you what’s even tougher: trying to operate forever at 60% capacity. I know that this is hard. I remember being in Seaside FL with Lance’s entire family and sneaking up to our room over and over again to make work calls.  It was the end of my career as a fundraiser.  It was not sustainable anymore!

Your Recipe for Effective Planning for Vacation

Although some research  shows vacations actually cause stress, there are others, such as the American Psychological Association, that show that the aftereffects of vacations are worth the planning.

The key is in the planning FOR the vacation. 

Prep Like a Pro: Delegate tasks early, clear your calendar, and actually say no to non-essential meetings.

Set Boundaries Like You Mean It: Craft a confident, unapologetic out-of-office message. Go ahead, delete that email app if you need to!

Declutter to Disconnect: Clear your physical and digital spaces. Clutter-free vacation, clutter-free mind.

Fully Show Up: Plan some tech-free zones in your vacation. No screens, just sun, sand, or whatever fills your cup.