On vacation without email and chat? Here's how to organize yourself to truly unplug from work.

Some people set off for the beach with a novel in their suitcase, while others, along with sunscreen, also pack a laptop "just in case." Some check their emails under a beach umbrella, some respond to a work message during a hike in the mountains, and some struggle not to check notifications even when they should officially be on vacation. With the arrival of vacation, the desire to truly disconnect from work once again becomes one of the most pressing concerns for workers. Yet, for many, the break remains more theoretical than real. According to a recent analysis published by Eurofound, one in five European workers reports being contacted for professional reasons outside of working hours several times a month. The same study also highlights a direct relationship between constant availability and stress levels: among workers contacted daily, at least six in ten report feeling stressed all the time or almost all the time at work. 

The result is that vacations risk turning into an incomplete "airplane mode" story: you're away from the office, but not truly away from it. Unread emails, urgent requests, company chats, and small tasks left unfinished end up intruding even into moments that should be dedicated to rest, family, friends, or simply yourself. 

For Sesame HR, a European technology platform for digital human resources management, the right to disconnect doesn't just depend on the willingness of individual workers. Truly disconnecting is also a matter of organization. Indeed, well-being comes not only from benefits, dedicated initiatives, or welfare policies, but also from the quality of daily work management: vacation planning, visibility of absences, workload distribution, clear handoffs, and tools that allow teams to know who is and who isn't available. 

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A poorly structured summer schedule can have the opposite effect to the desired one: a backlog of tasks before departure, overworked colleagues, last-minute requests, and emergencies that haunt people even outside the office. Conversely, when holidays, leave, and absences are planned in advance and transparently, it becomes easier to ensure continuity of work without interrupting vacationers' rest time. 

This topic is particularly relevant for SMEs, where even the temporary absence of a key figure can significantly impact daily operations. In these contexts, digitizing HR processes allows for an up-to-date overview of vacation, leave, availability, and workload, reducing the risk of overlap and facilitating the management of periods of increased absence. 

"At a time when the lines between professional and personal life are increasingly blurred, the ability to enjoy vacation without notifications, guilt, or the feeling of always having to be available is becoming an essential component of workplace well-being. Because true disconnection doesn't start when you turn off your computer or pack your suitcase: it begins much earlier, with how you organize your work," concludes Sesame HR. 

(Adnkronos)