10+ Ways to Mentally Detach from Work on Holidays [Proven Tips]

10+ Ways to Mentally Detach from Work on Holidays [Proven Tips] As a professional, while at work you know to leave personal issues at the door.However, the reverse should be true, as well. While on vacation, you need to give yourself and your family your full attention too.To do this properly, you need to unplug and detach yourself from work, but this is easier said than done!Use this guide as a checklist to effectively disconnect from work and give you and your travel mates the attention you all deserve.1Configure a Perfect Out-of-Office ReplyAn out-of-office email auto-response is the first tool most employees use to alert others of an ongoing leave of absence.However, it might not do much to allay any anxiety over whats coming in, as well as how youll be able to cope with the deluge of emails awaiting you upon your return.So, its up to you to craft one that helps you out more effectively and efficiently.First, add an associates contact information (after clearing it with them, of course) to take some of the workload off of your hands. This wil l also ensure that any urgent priorities get the attention needed. Also, kindly request that they re-email you when you get back to the office. You could also think about auto-forwarding emails, especially from specific email addresses. Finally, consider starting the OOO reply a day early or adding an extra day onto it at the endthis will give you some free time to take care of things!Oh, and dont forget to apply an O response to your personal email accounts, as well!2Make Sure They All Know Youre OffA great out-of-office reply is, well, great, but thats more for clients and those in your company that might email you. For your colleagues that dont email you, how would they know?Make sure you set your days off on your companys calendar, especially. Also, set a status on any chat or other applications you use, such as Slack or Skype.3Silence Work NotificationsFor most of us, our personal phones double as another portal into our work life. To give yourself a real holiday from the offic e, turn off all your work notifications. Keep a note with a list of the accounts youve muted, and set yourself a calendar reminder for the day after you return to re-enable all the notifications youve silenced.Lauren, of Health Labs, goes even further. I remove all work apps from my phone. We use Slack as the messaging system for employees within our company to communicate with each other. Previously, I would mark my status as away and put my notifications to snooze, but I would still find myself checking it. In an effort to combat that, I've begun removing the app from my phone completely. While I'm on vacation, I know I won't go through the trouble of downloading the app, figuring out my two-step verification and re-logging in.4Pack Personal Devices OnlyIf you were given a work phone or other device, leave it at home (unless you are obligated to keep it on you). Strategically give a few key people at work your personal cell number to reach you only in the case of the most dire of emergencies. Oblige them to stick to this rule by mentioning that you may be out of network, or the international roaming fees will be exorbitantly preposterous.5Go on the OffensiveIn addition to setting that great out-of-office reply, consider being proactive. The day before you leave the office, send out an email message to your most-contacted clients and coworkers to inform them of your upcoming plans. You can add the same info that you would in your out-of-office response. This will help cut down on the total number of emails you return tonow thats a vacation!Dont forget to set a vacation voicemail and chat message, as well, if they apply.6Win the MorningTo successfully win the day, you have to first win the morning. Thats the advice from Colorados top retirement planner, Matthew Jackson.I have found that I must completely disrupt and replace my work routine with a routine specific to vacationing. During my focused free thinking I set the intention of what Id like to accomplish that day. I visualize it vividly. What I focus on depends on the type of day I want to have: relaxing, adventure travel, laying in a hammock, getting sun, meeting new people, exploring new places, followed by the visualization of the perfect evening all the way to bedtimefeeling happy, refreshed, and relaxed.7Unplug From More Than the OfficeSometimes, to properly get yourself into vacation mode, you may have to go further than just stopping directly work-related items. If youre in finance, avoid your routine news briefing on the stock market, for example. Another thing to avoid might be your Google Feed, or any machine learning-based news feed; these get to understand your interests and topics over time, and they could often include items thatll get you thinking about work.Jeff Walsh of Nomo-FOMO (a true expert for this article!) adds, Delete authentication if possible on your phone so even if you want to plug back in, you don't have the temptation.8Set Up a Plan for Your ReturnA gr eat way to conquer any anxiety about all that awaits you upon your return is to have a plan in place of how youll tackle your first day back. On a more detailed level, you can plan out how youll knock out specific tasks in segments.For example, for handling my inbox after I get back from a holiday, I immediately delete all newsletters that have come in; this usually lowers my unread emails by half or more. Then, I start from the most recent, because sometimes a problem will have fixed itself (like email B saying, Oh, never mind, I figured out email A).Another thing to plan for is to have a coworker designated who can spend 5 to 10 minutes briefing you on whats happened when you get back. If you feel guilty that you are enjoying the sun while that colleague gets double the work, bring them back a nice souvenir and tell them youll do the same when its their turn.9Commit (And Stick to It!)At the end of the day, youre the one responsibleyou can give yourself the restful vacation you des erve, or you can be your own worst enemy.Set boundaries, and stick to them.10Consider an Emergency Email AddressSeb Dean, founder of Imaginaire Digital, gives this advice: Set-up an 'urgent' email address: sometimes you're going to have to be contactable as the head of the business. I generally set up an urgent email address which I can access on my phone which is only for the crucial emailsi.e. a disaster strikes. I tell my team not to email anything else to this address.When you've got your urgent email setup, temporarily remove your normal email address from your phone so that you can't check it and give somebody in your team access to check it. Unfortunately, if you leave it active, you'll find yourself checking your emails even if they're not important. By having a team member checking your main email account, they'll be able to forward anything truly urgent to your urgent address.11Pick a Different DestinationSometimes the problem isnt you, but rather its the destination. Keta n Kapoor, CEO cofounder of Mettl, says this: Your vacay destination must allow your brain to acclimatize and adapt all over again to external conditions such as culture, environment, weather and dietary preferences. Going to the local cafe and sipping your routine cup of coffee isnt going to help at all. Instead, you must choose a location that is completely different from the places that you generally visit that will instigate your mind to rewire completely around new factors, thereby allowing you to unplug in a true sense.Anthony from the Travel Tart adds, When cell phone towers were proposed to be installed on Lord Howe Island, the community overwhelmingly opposed it. So the entire island doesn't have cell phone coverage. When I went there, it was so refreshing to not be able to receive mobile phone calls, and I didn't miss it at all! The only way I could be contacted was by old fashioned landline at the hotel. Everyone should try it sometime!12Have Someone Hold You AccountableI f you are taking a trip with someone, like a group of friends or your significant other, have them shoulder some of your burden.If you know you can't do this on your own, and you are traveling with someone, have them hold you accountable to your commitment of not doing any work while on vacation. Do something that will make you think before you reach for the phone and check work emails, something like pay your travel partner every time you do any work, says Theresa Nguyen, RN MSN.So, what do you think?To effectively detach yourself while on holiday, you need to do so physically, mentally, emotionally, and digitally.I hope these tips will allow you to unplug from the office on your next trip!Got any other tips or advice on disconnecting from work while vacationing? Let us know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

3 Reasons Why IRL (In Real Life) Networking Still Kicks Butt - Classy Career Girl

3 Reasons Why IRL (In Real Life) Networking Still Kicks Butt You don’t have to go back to the dark ages before the Internet to recognize that many problems can arise from hanging out online at the expense of your IRL (in real life) relationships: social awkwardness, a penchant for staying home alone with your cat, your laptop and a box of Oreos, and let’s not forget, living in your ‘pajama’ jeans. Today, even Millennials are coming around to the idea that there’s more to life than what’s contained within their smartphone screen. However, a large number of people are still under the (misguided) impression that networking online is enough. I disagree. Somewhat ironically perhaps, given that I’ve run a successful communications agency since 2008 and the majority of what we do takes place online. I stand by my argument, though. Here’s why IRL networking is still important: 3 Reasons Why IRL (In Real Life) Networking Still Kicks Butt 1. You use all your senses. We’re human, we rely on all our senses to guide us. Even (especially?) our sixth sense or ‘gut feel’, as it’s often called. When we network online our senses are often just spectators on the sidelines. Sure, you can check out a prospective client’s LinkedIn profile. But let’s be honest, we all make a point of putting our best selves forward on that platform. It’s our public résumé, why wouldn’t we? When you meet someone in person you get a feel for them. There’s either a connection or there isn’t. Now obviously this isn’t foolproof. We’ve all had at least one encounter that proved our judgment to be faulty, right? But this is the exception, rather than the norm. Conversely, we’ve all connected with someone online who we thought was rude or unfriendly and later met them in person and really liked them. You can’t always tell, so if there’s an opportunity to meet people in the flesh, go for it. [RELATED: How to Double Your Network in 4 Weeks] 2. You build your social muscles. We live in a world where remote is the new norm. However, being able to work from anywhere means we often end up working alone. It’s obviously wonderful to not have to go into an office every day (who wouldn’t want that kind of freedom?), but the downside is that unless we keep our wits about us, we can easily forget how to interact with others. You might even find yourself making up excuses so you can hang out on the couch watching Grey’s Anatomy instead. This should be avoided at all costs. Being comfortable spending time alone is certainly a character trait worth having, however, it shouldn’t be at the expense of your social alter ego. 3. You inspire creativity. Nothing happens in a vacuum. You need space to make magic but unless you get out there and mix with other people you’ll have no way of replenishing your well of ideas. Being around other human beings can be wonderfully energizing, you just need to choose the events you attend carefully. Some events (like those unavoidable business functions) often have a draining effect. This is because the attendees haven’t necessarily chosen to be there, rather they’ve been instructed to attend. Whereas the events (workshops, conferences etc.) you sign up for on your own volition will almost always result in a positive outcome. These events will be where you’ll meet someone and just ‘get’ them. These events will be where you come across potential partners, colleagues, and friends. This is where creativity happens. A case for both. There’s no denying that engaging online has its place. The Internet has made it possible for us to meet people in other parts of the world that we never would have met otherwise. For many of us traveling abroad isn’t an option, we have cost constraints and family obligations that don’t allow for it. In todays online world, all we need to do to connect with someone on another continent is a computer and the Internet. People are using these tools to earn money, find love and make friends. But as wonderful as all that is, a face to face encounter with a like-minded person can be equally so.

Six Tips For Working From Home

Six Tips For Working From Home In today’s mobile world, nearly 50% of Americans say they spend at least some time working from home or working remotely. While working from the comfort of your own haven may sound cush, its imperative to create a routine and environment that promote productivity and draw clear lines between where work and play take place. Shay Onorio, president and cofounder of DC Metro based digital branding agency Red Thinking, runs an entirely remote company by design. Here are her 6 practical tips to stay successful â€" and sane â€" while working from home. Get Up and Move It is important to keep the blood circulating throughout the day, no matter where you sit. By getting up, taking a brisk walk and clearing your head, you give way to fresh ideas while also giving your body a chance to loosen up. Without coworkers around urging you to run down to the local coffee shop or a boss who has beckoned you into a conference room for the 10th time that day, you have to stay conscious of getting up and moving around as regularly as your schedule allows. Shay’s Top Tip: Take calls using headphones and walk around your house or office space while you chat. Maintain Your Sleep Schedule Just because you don’t commute doesn’t mean you should sleep in an extra hour. Not only is a regular sleep schedule critical to maintaining health in general, but the Mayo Clinic says it’s the foundation for overall healthy habits and I couldn’t agree more. Your brain â€" and body â€" will thank you. Shay’s Top Tip: As tempting as it is, the only reason you should be reaching for your cell phone in the morning is to start that meditation app. Give yourself the space to open your emails when you “start” work, not while you’re still in bed waking up.   Create an Inspired Work Space Maybe it’s a pretty sketch or painting on the wall of your workspace or perhaps it’s a funny, whimsical tape dispenser. Whatever you choose to create an inspiring work space, it should be something that sparks joy and makes you feel comfortable and happy in your space. There is no need for old boring manila folders anymore; stores are carrying items that are functional and aesthetically pleasing. Stay’s Top Tip: Choose a color that makes you smile and decorate your office area with pops of it. The Container Store is the perfect place to find colorful, yet functional, office accessories. Keep a Regular Routine Commit to office hours. Otherwise, you’ll be responding to emails while trying to hang with your friends or family. The office can  and should close. Everyone risks burnout, but it’s more likely when you refuse to turn off and unplug from email, phone and clients. Make office hours and stick to them or else you will end up answering emails at 11:00pm and that is healthy for no one. Shay’s Top Tip: When you go on vacation, put an out-of-office up. This can be tempting to forego when your office can be anywhere, but it is a good way to unplug and know emails aren’t going unanswered.   Shower and get dressed in the morning. Just because you might not have to report to a boss or present to a room full of execs, doesn’t mean you can’t get motivated to take a shower and get dressed. You’ve heard the phrase “Dress for Success”, right? Well, it applies to folks who work from home, too! You don’t have to wear a suit but don’t start work until you are at least out of your pajamas. Shay’s Top Tip: Save money on your wardrobe but still keep it fresh by trying clothing subscription services. A great option is Rent The Runway, which allows you to rotate a number of high end, work appropriate clothing for client meetings without a significant investment. Find a good spot to get out and work at, too. Don’t glue yourself to your home every single day. You need to interact with people! Now that WiFi is almost universally available in every coffee shop you encounter, it’s fairly easy to find a mobile, remote office location without too much effort. Energy, sunlight and human interaction is a great way to inspire and help you to focus on that days’ tasks. Shay’s Top Tip: You’d be surprised how many folks you can meet if you set up shop somewhere other than a coffee shop. That can get dull by early afternoon. I’ve met individuals that might be good additions to the team, found new business introductions (and wins), met new friends and built relationships for team building opportunities or leads. There’s one spot by me that on a random Wednesday there can be 8-10 people lined up with their laptops open. We jokingly call it the office and chat about our weeks. This guest post was authored by  Shay Onorio. As President partner of Red Thinking, Shay Onorio heads up business development and client services.  Shay’s ability to maneuver the client services rodeo and guide overall business operations with her insightful instincts and acute business knowledge has enabled her to ensure Red Thinking delivers the unexpected; with the end-game goal of providing thought-provoking and effective strategy and creative for clients.

Commercial awareness its not just for corporate jobs

Commercial awareness its not just for corporate jobs Commercial awareness is one of those topics that invariably provokes yawns and groans from students; many assume that its relevant only for those seeking corporate careers.  Well, think again. Anyone who plans to enter employment, regardless of sector, needs to know what it means, why it matters and how to find it! Ok, but what is it? Commercial awareness is not just an understanding of how businesses make money. It’s also about what customers want and what problems or challenges there are within organisations and job sectors. I think this quote from Nick Sellers, Warwick grad, sums it up nicely. Commercial awareness doesnt have to be intimidating but it is important to realise that whatever career path you choose there is going to be commerciality involved somewhere Your local corner shop is worrying about the big supermarket opening down the road. You bought a new laptop for university and got persuaded to take it on finance, and your sport society had to ask you for one extra pound this year to balance the budget. Were all connected to a business in some way, so use it to become more aware. A part time job could be your window, or take a step back and remember that your Students Union is a multi-million pound business with lots of opportunities to get involved and learn. (Nick Sellers, Merlin Entertainment) Theres no catch all definition for commercial awareness, but if you think of it as the ability to view organisations from a business perspective you wont go far wrong.  Yes, you might be headed for a career in the arts, but dont get complacent. Take galleries for example: there are investors, budgets, clients and overheads to consider. And thats before you factor in economic climate, government policy and current trends. Does it really matter outside big business? Yes, yes and yes! Its easy to confuse the profit motive with commercial awareness and assume that more ethical career choices (if youll excuse the loaded term) remain unsullied by commercial considerations. The opposite is true. Take the third sector: charities have to be accountable for their spending and try where possible to offset admin costs with fundraising activities. Matt Rodgers, a Warwick history graduate who now works for Cancer Research UK, has this to say: My history degree has been useful in my time at Cancer Research UK; presentation, research and persuasion skills are regularly required to help me deliver on my objectives. These skills are put to best use when coupled with a solid business understanding, such as understanding market trends and supporter motivations  to identify opportunities to grow our income. We have to think about the most efficient way to use our supporters money to fund future research whilst maintaining a cost ratio that is acceptable for our generous supporters. (Matt Rodgers, Cancer Research UK) Maybe youre interested in teaching? In which case youve got to think beyond the confines of the classroom. You also need to be aware of external influences and political pressures that affect education policy, and therefore practice. If you havent got a firm grip on current (and commercial) affairs youll come unstuck.  Consider the following: Is the government investing more or less in the education budget? What will this mean for recruitment and selection and teacher training? What of the current government concerns about educational disadvantage? Being able to answer these questions confidently and knowledgeably will give you the edge over other candidates during the interview and selection process. Ollie Longworth, former Warwick graduate and Senior Graduate Recruitment Officer- Attraction, TeachFirst, says Successful applicants to the Teach First Leadership Development Programme are aware of the national problem of educational disadvantage and can articulate how they will help us address it. (Ollie Longworth, Teach First) How to develop commercial awareness There are some short term fixes to help you develop commercial awareness: read a quality broadsheet, watch some of the more accessible TV programmes like BBCs Business Lunch or tune in to topical radio shows like Wake Up To Money (5live) or Money Box (BBC Radio 4). The best approach though is to try and integrate some of the following activities into your student experience. If you can gradually absorb commercial awareness through things you do, it will feel less alien when it comes to applications and interviews. Get some work experience Theres no better way to find how organisations and companies work. Try to get some work experience in a relevant sector and take every opportunity to talk to colleagues across different functions. Its really helpful to develop a 360 degree overview of company operations. Dont despair if you havent got a glamorous internship lined up you can still make part time work count. Working in a shop, bar or family business can still give you a valuable insight into commercial realities (budgets, accounts, tax). Tap into your networks Start with LinkedIn. This is a great way to tap into professional and sector networks and build your knowledge. There are 1000s of special interest groups on LinkedIn, so theres a good chance youll find something relevant to join. Make the most of your contacts. Its easy to dismiss friends and family but they can be an incredibly rich source of information. What about that friend whos just finished an internship, or the one who heads up Enactus? Get stuck in Join student societies. It doesnt have to be business or finance related to make a difference. Whatever club youre a member of theres plenty of opportunity to get involved with budgeting, marketing, fundraising and sponsorship all commercial activities. Try volunteering. Ok, it might not seem an obvious path but consider this: project leaders in Warwick Volunteers have to manage a budget, allocate resources and organise events. Research, research, research Use all the online information at your disposal to research sectors, companies and organisations. Check our pages on researching jobs for useful links and info. The Gateway has some easily digestible articles and tips to enhance commercial awareness. BizEd is another and has a fantastic glossary of business and financial terms. Attend employer events on campus there are plenty and keep an eye out for commercial and business awareness sessions run by some of our recruiters. And finally, dont just consume information you need to understand and apply what youve learnt. Employers are looking for candidates who can make connections, draw conclusions and understand the world around them. They want evidence give it to them!

How You Can Use Resume Summaries For Students

How You Can Use Resume Summaries For StudentsStudents, or freshers, will be happy to know that there are many resume summary examples for students. They can find resume summaries in the form of magazine articles, newspaper articles, forum posts, and even in eBooks. The reason students and freshers love to use these resumes is because of the research they can do on their own.Resume summary examples for students are basically a way for them to see what it would look like if they wrote their own resume. And by writing their own, it means that they will be responsible for the content, and any mistakes will be their own fault. A resume can be written in a very short period of time. It's not a long, drawn-out task; just put in a little bit of time and effort, and you can have your own career success.Looking at resume summary examples for students will also show you that you can get your job done in less time than you thought. A resume is one of the most important pieces of information that a person is going to look at when applying for jobs. The potential employer is going to want to know that you are knowledgeable about the position you are applying for. With resume summaries for students, you will be able to showcase your skill sets that you would like the potential employer to see.But aside from showcasing your skills and abilities, these student resume examples for students are great for beginners. You'll be able to see how to write a resume without having to have years of experience under your belt. Not only can you gain the knowledge that you need to apply for jobs, but you'll learn how to make sure that you have the right skills to be a great candidate. With all the information that you can get from using these examples, you will be able to make the process of applying for jobs a lot easier.Another great thing about these resume summary examples for students is that you will be able to learn more about how to organize your information. While resumes may seem t o be boring, the key to making yours interesting is to have a lot of information to show off to the potential employer. That means that you will have to know which sections of your resume you want to put on top.In order to make your resume different from everyone else's, you will have to arrange your sections in a different way. This means that you will want to make sure that the parts that are appealing to you are emphasized. After you know what section should be on top, then you can start organizing your information in a manner that makes sense to you. This is something that has a big impact on your resume.You will also be able to learn how to get information on your resume in an easy and concise manner, with the help of resume summary examples for students. A resume is really the best way for a person to make a quick impression to the potential employer. If you do not have any ideas about how to present yourself, then resume summaries for students can help you a lot.By taking adv antage of the resume summary examples for students, you can be sure that you will be on your way to becoming a success in your career. Your resume is something that will allow the potential employer to get to know you and what you have to offer. By using the tips that you can find on the Internet, you will be able to prepare a successful resume and present yourself in a way that is unique to you.

Suggestions for a happier life - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Suggestions for a happier life - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I was net-researching the discipline of positive psychology, and found the website of David G. Myers, which is a veritable gold mine of information on being happy and many other issues besides. I especially enjoyed the list of 10 suggestions for a happier life. Basic stuff, but still true. Positive psychology was defined by Martin Seligman (I wrote a little about it in a previous post), and theres also a review of his book on the subject Learned optimism

What to take to a job interview - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

What to take to a job interview You’ve frantically prepared for this interview for at least a week. You’ve worked out your entire interview day schedule. You’ve triple checked-and check again-that you know where the interview is. You’ve made your lunch the night before, laid out your outfit, got into bed earlier than usual and set three “wake up” alarms. Nothing can go wrong now, right? Yet, with all of the pre-interview commotion, you’ve neglected to think about what you need to take on the day. So you pack your bag in a last-minute rush and keep your fingers crossed you haven’t forgotten anything important. You don’t want to experience that eerie feeling in your stomach during your commute. The one asking you if you’ve remembered to bring this or that. So here’s a list of what you should always take to an interview. Document up Nothing would be more soul-destroying than turning up to your interview without the relevant documents. Documents you’re required to bring and/or those you feel could come in handy are best kept very close to you. Here are a few documents you may need to place in your bag well in advance to your interview: Passport Driver’s licence (provisional or full) Spare CV Printed copy of your portfolio References Food and drink supplies Whether you’ve got a short walk, a train journey or you’re going by car to your interview, it’s important to be prepared food and drink-wise. Ensure you have a bottle of water with you as well as some kind of snack. If your belly rumbles as you walk into the interview, you’re going to immediately want to get out of there. The same goes for when your mouth goes dry after the first question and you’ve got no water to back you up. Mean business If you want to stand a chance, you need to look like you mean business. Employers and hirers want to see a candidate is professional and organised, so show you’re these two things. How can you prove this? Bring with you a notepad and two pens. Not only will your interviewer see you’re serious because you’re taking notes, but you’ll be grateful later on when you’ve notes to look back on. Also write down any questions you have beforehand and, since they’re in your notepad, you’ll remember to ask them during the interview. As for the two pens? You’re going to look less than organised if one runs out! Come to think of it… take a handful with you! Pack your diary! Maybe, on the spot, they’ll organise a second interview with you. It’s not wise to bring your phone out as they tell you a date, time and place. It’s also not wise to nod and try to remember these three things. Write down everything you need to know about this second interview into your diary so your interview brain doesn’t have to struggle to remember details. Take business cards. Well, you never know when these might come in handy. Important extras There are plenty of extras you could easily forget in the run up to an interview. Here are a few you should definitely pack: Train tickets Railcard Phone charger Notes on the company/role (to read beforehand) Written instructions on how to get to the interview Nail file Deodorant Gum/mints Make up (in case the commute does some damage) Hair brush/comb Tissue Spare shoes (in case your smart shoes start to rub!) The key to a successful interview is being organised. But that doesn’t just mean researching the company and role so that you know everything there is to know. It means feeling calm, ready and prepared on the day. The only sure way to make this happen is to ensure you write out a list of everything you need to do before the interview… and pack for it the night before. Don’t sacrifice a good interview by not preparing your bag for every less than ideal scenario. Author bio: Kathryn Terry writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in finding candidates their perfect  internship. To browse our graduate jobs, visit our website.