Holiday/work email anxiety
Discussion
I’m currently on holiday for two weeks, one week in and am really struggling with anxiety about what’s happening at work whilst I’m not there.
I’ve taken my work phone and have restricted myself to looking at emails only twice, but if anything seeing snippets has exasperated the issue. I’m well aware that nothing bad is likely to happen and that my clients can survive for two weeks without contact but I can’t shake the underlying feeling.
Do any others have this issue with not being able to switch off? How do you avoid it?
I’ve taken my work phone and have restricted myself to looking at emails only twice, but if anything seeing snippets has exasperated the issue. I’m well aware that nothing bad is likely to happen and that my clients can survive for two weeks without contact but I can’t shake the underlying feeling.
Do any others have this issue with not being able to switch off? How do you avoid it?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes did a handover to a colleague as thoroughly as I could, however that’s for ongoing pieces of work as opposed to any new potential issues etc. People also don’t seem to notice/read out of office emails which doesn’t help the situation.
Agree I need to condition myself to switch off. It’s ironic that I work to enjoy holidays and when I’m here I think about work!
Shepster said:
True, but then I’m not sure that I wouldn’t be even more concerned not knowing what I’m going back to!
If you have a job like that then the best thing you can do is time your holiday from Saturday to Saturday, then on your return spend the Sunday getting a heads up on your email. You need a block of time away from work.If that won't cover it then get another job.
Shepster said:
I’m currently on holiday for two weeks, one week in and am really struggling with anxiety about what’s happening at work whilst I’m not there.
I’ve taken my work phone and have restricted myself to looking at emails only twice, but if anything seeing snippets has exasperated the issue. I’m well aware that nothing bad is likely to happen and that my clients can survive for two weeks without contact but I can’t shake the underlying feeling.
Do any others have this issue with not being able to switch off? How do you avoid it?
I used to do this, until once, just before I wemt on vacation, my assistant said to me "The world won't end without you. You're not actually as important or essential as you think you are."I’ve taken my work phone and have restricted myself to looking at emails only twice, but if anything seeing snippets has exasperated the issue. I’m well aware that nothing bad is likely to happen and that my clients can survive for two weeks without contact but I can’t shake the underlying feeling.
Do any others have this issue with not being able to switch off? How do you avoid it?
It did the trick.
Doofus said:
Shepster said:
I’m currently on holiday for two weeks, one week in and am really struggling with anxiety about what’s happening at work whilst I’m not there.
I’ve taken my work phone and have restricted myself to looking at emails only twice, but if anything seeing snippets has exasperated the issue. I’m well aware that nothing bad is likely to happen and that my clients can survive for two weeks without contact but I can’t shake the underlying feeling.
Do any others have this issue with not being able to switch off? How do you avoid it?
I used to do this, until once, just before I wemt on vacation, my assistant said to me "The world won't end without you. You're not actually as important or essential as you think you are."I’ve taken my work phone and have restricted myself to looking at emails only twice, but if anything seeing snippets has exasperated the issue. I’m well aware that nothing bad is likely to happen and that my clients can survive for two weeks without contact but I can’t shake the underlying feeling.
Do any others have this issue with not being able to switch off? How do you avoid it?
It did the trick.
I think feeling like this stems from the culture of the company/office environment.
I've recently just left a place where it was common to get emails from senior management late at night, weekends and when you were on holiday.
This created a culture where everyone thought they had to be doing the same right down to the grads. Essentially they ended up with a load of people working 7 days a week and feeling they needed to be checking for and responding to emails every waking hour.
Whether deliberate or not I can't say for certain, but they did have a lot of people doing lots of additional hours for free.
I recently started a new position in industry with more pressure on deadlines and tighter margins.
I have yet to receive an email after 5pm or on a weekend from anyone within my company. I've not had my work phone or laptop out once outside of working hours.
The difference is in the culture and expectations set by senior management.
I've recently just left a place where it was common to get emails from senior management late at night, weekends and when you were on holiday.
This created a culture where everyone thought they had to be doing the same right down to the grads. Essentially they ended up with a load of people working 7 days a week and feeling they needed to be checking for and responding to emails every waking hour.
Whether deliberate or not I can't say for certain, but they did have a lot of people doing lots of additional hours for free.
I recently started a new position in industry with more pressure on deadlines and tighter margins.
I have yet to receive an email after 5pm or on a weekend from anyone within my company. I've not had my work phone or laptop out once outside of working hours.
The difference is in the culture and expectations set by senior management.
CustardOnChips said:
I think feeling like this stems from the culture of the company/office environment.
I've recently just left a place where it was common to get emails from senior management late at night, weekends and when you were on holiday.
This created a culture where everyone thought they had to be doing the same right down to the grads. Essentially they ended up with a load of people working 7 days a week and feeling they needed to be checking for and responding to emails every waking hour.
Whether deliberate or not I can't say for certain, but they did have a lot of people doing lots of additional hours for free.
I recently started a new position in industry with more pressure on deadlines and tighter margins.
I have yet to receive an email after 5pm or on a weekend from anyone within my company. I've not had my work phone or laptop out once outside of working hours.
The difference is in the culture and expectations set by senior management.
I think this is an interesting point, as although not mandatory, there is an underlying tone in my job/with my manager that it’s expected to be available outside of standard working hours.I've recently just left a place where it was common to get emails from senior management late at night, weekends and when you were on holiday.
This created a culture where everyone thought they had to be doing the same right down to the grads. Essentially they ended up with a load of people working 7 days a week and feeling they needed to be checking for and responding to emails every waking hour.
Whether deliberate or not I can't say for certain, but they did have a lot of people doing lots of additional hours for free.
I recently started a new position in industry with more pressure on deadlines and tighter margins.
I have yet to receive an email after 5pm or on a weekend from anyone within my company. I've not had my work phone or laptop out once outside of working hours.
The difference is in the culture and expectations set by senior management.
The comment around not being that important in the grand scheme of the business also resonated, as did the drinking one, I've tried to embrace both today!
Thanks all.
The company I worked for introduced a policy that everyone had to have a two week holiday per year (contiguous working days).
During that time no remote access to work systems or responses to emails were allowed.
I'd like to say it was introduced for the employees' benefit but it was actually thought that any fraud/scheme that the employee was involved in would come to light within two weeks of them not being present.
As a by-product though it definitely made holidays more relaxing.
During that time no remote access to work systems or responses to emails were allowed.
I'd like to say it was introduced for the employees' benefit but it was actually thought that any fraud/scheme that the employee was involved in would come to light within two weeks of them not being present.
As a by-product though it definitely made holidays more relaxing.
I take a work phone with me, but it's off during working hours, 3 or 4 nights a week (outside of working hours) I turn it on, sync mails give it a quick scan maybe reply to one or two that cannot wait, asking folks to look at something.. then turn the phone off again.
I run a team of cloud solution architects, so short term time critical engagements. I trust the team around me but fundamentally I am responsible and accountable for what they do, I find this small amount of contact just enough to enable me to relax and more importantly *KNOW* I'm not coming back to a sh*t storm on my first day back.
S.
I run a team of cloud solution architects, so short term time critical engagements. I trust the team around me but fundamentally I am responsible and accountable for what they do, I find this small amount of contact just enough to enable me to relax and more importantly *KNOW* I'm not coming back to a sh*t storm on my first day back.
S.
I usually just delete the mail account off my phone. I work on the basis of if s
t has really hit the fan, and to be honest it never does, my manager knows to contact me over phone or WhatsApp and I'll help out. It has never happened - because as mentioned above, no-one is as important as they say they are.
I will say however, that my employer seems to 'allow' unreasonable asks upon employees in their holiday time. Case in point: I was moving home, time off booked well in advance. Sales team I was working with wanted me in front of a customer first thing on Monday morning...at around the point I'd be moving into my new home. Despite advance notice of this, they kept asking me to relinquish some of my moving time and for me to be there. I of course ignored that request and arranged cover, but it went a fair bit up the chain with incredulity that I was refusing to shift my home move for a poxy deal...which the company eventually lost. (We were never going to win it...).
t has really hit the fan, and to be honest it never does, my manager knows to contact me over phone or WhatsApp and I'll help out. It has never happened - because as mentioned above, no-one is as important as they say they are.I will say however, that my employer seems to 'allow' unreasonable asks upon employees in their holiday time. Case in point: I was moving home, time off booked well in advance. Sales team I was working with wanted me in front of a customer first thing on Monday morning...at around the point I'd be moving into my new home. Despite advance notice of this, they kept asking me to relinquish some of my moving time and for me to be there. I of course ignored that request and arranged cover, but it went a fair bit up the chain with incredulity that I was refusing to shift my home move for a poxy deal...which the company eventually lost. (We were never going to win it...).
Doofus said:
I used to do this, until once, just before I wemt on vacation, my assistant said to me "The world won't end without you. You're not actually as important or essential as you think you are."
It did the trick.
My foreman says this to me too. I actually own the company though!It did the trick.
OP, I agree with Tyre Smoke. It does sound like you are stressed. Switch the phone off and look for something interesting to do to occupy your mind. Once you start to relax you’ll forget about work.
I used to suffer from this too, always needing to be on top of every email. Then I went for a safari in Zimbabwe and spent 7 nights in a location in the Bush where I had zero signal for any outside communication. It was utter bliss. Sure, the first day was OMG wonder what's happening and then I settled into holiday mode knowing there was nothing I could do.
When I returned to work, I was all caught up in a day or two. After that, I didn't worry about holidays and switching off completely.
When I returned to work, I was all caught up in a day or two. After that, I didn't worry about holidays and switching off completely.
I can't imagine there are many jobs that would fall apart when the person is on holiday, a brain surgeon maybe.
I think the real problem is focusing the mind on something else as some holidays you are just away from work and basically bored so start thinking about work. That is why holidays need to be constructive, use you time to do something your job is not your life.
I think the real problem is focusing the mind on something else as some holidays you are just away from work and basically bored so start thinking about work. That is why holidays need to be constructive, use you time to do something your job is not your life.
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