With the upcoming holidays, you may be taking advantage of some time away from the office. However, for a majority of professionals it is hard to completely unplug from the work world, even when they’re on PTO.  Employees are constantly connected, and with today’s technology at your fingertips, the temptation to check e-mails when out of the office is even greater.  It is important to unplug during your time away from the office, both to recharge and maintain your productivity when you return.

Stay disconnected during your time away with these ideas:

• Keep the temptation at bay by not bringing along your computer or tablet. Having an easy connection to your work responsibilities will make it easier for you to jump online, even to check a few e-mails. If your e-mail is connected to your phone, disconnect for the period of time you’re off or use the cell phone of someone in your group for the week.
• Ignore the enticing itch to check your e-mail or complete a work related task. Try to put all work-related responsibility to the back of your mind and concentrate instead on enjoying your time away from the office.
• Gradually transition back into the swing of working. At the end of your time off or after returning from a trip, allow yourself to check a couple of e-mails to help you transition back into everyday life easier.

Disengage and remove work distractions to fully enjoy the benefits of your time off and return to work revamped and refreshed.