Summer Vacation: Getting Work Done

We all try to keep from working while on vacation… but sometimes, it’s inevitable. Too often, we forget that well-purposed goal because an email or important task pops up that needs our attention. If you anticipate doing a little work here and there on your vacation this summer, it’s best to be prepared. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before embarking on your trip:

1. Make sure you’re connected. If you’re leaving on vacation in the middle of a big project at work, you might feel more comfortable knowing that there’s Wi-Fi or data available wherever you’ll be—that way, if a surprise does come up, you’ll be prepared to handle it quickly and efficiently. Talk to your hotel ahead of time and see what options there are for connectivity—do you pay for Wi-Fi? Or is it free… and if so, where in the hotel does that apply?

Working on the go is also much easier if you have a good data plan in place for your portable device. This way, wherever you have service, you’ll be able to connect to the Internet… even if you’re not at the hotel or in a free Wi-Fi location.

2. Protect yourself and your projects. Don’t let yourself fall victim to cyber and physical security breaches while on vacation. When it comes to protecting your laptop, tablet or other valuable/sensitive work items, protect them in your hotel room carefully—keep them in a safe and only bring what’s absolutely necessary to take on tasks, to prevent the risk of losing an important file.

There are several measures you can take to make sure your company’s online information is safe while you’re out on vacation—like taking a device that can connect to your company’s information, but not using your work computer itself. In the event that you lose access to your personal laptop, for example, your company’s client database and other important information will still be protected.

3. Find the perfect balance. Ideally, you would be able to take a stress-free vacation, free of work tasks and projects—some employees and heads of small companies do, in fact, deliberately leave their laptops at home and let emails come in without reading them… these are efforts to reduce the stress that work can bring to your time away. On the other hand, many employees say that having access to their work files can reduce stress on vacation—even if they never pick up their phone or laptop, at least they can relax knowing that they’re ready to handle small surprises that may come up.

So where do you fit in the work and leisure balance? If you can tie up any loose ends at work before your vacation, maybe leaving your work at home is the best option for you. If you’re used to working on the go and must be able to handle tasks as they come up, bringing your computer or tablet and taking advantage of remote network access may be ideal. Let your fellow employees know that they should only contact you in case of an emergency or big project, and don’t let yourself fall into the habit of checking your email every hour. It’s your vacation! You may need access to technology, but it is good to take a break.

If you need help putting together a network provision for extended time away, or want a more accessible company database, be sure to give us a call! We can help you find the right solution.