The bMighty Blog -- IT

Chances are that a few days away from the office will invariably include some office tasks, such as answering your email. Given the advent of today’s always connected technology, how does an IT executive get some well deserved down time?

The McLane Group, a UK based consulting firm, offers executives a few tips to transform their free time into a real vacation rather than more time at the office. The consultancy recommends first that a person recognize that a break is needed. Time away from the office removes much of the daily drudgery and enables workers to return refreshed and able to take novel approaches to problems.

Before leaving work for a vacation, executives should look at their workspace and say, “You are complete”...and then leave. Of course, that feeling may be possible only if a person feels certain that someone else will actually take on any new challenges. So the consulting firm advises that one create a “Whilst I am away list” and hand over different tasks to colleagues before taking off.

Even then, chances are employees will not be able to totally free themselves from the office, so they should try and make their office work as non-intrusive as possible. The consulting company recommends setting aside 30 minutes before breakfast to answer any urgent emails and phone calls Last, do not talk shop when you’re away; focus on your friends, free time, family, and fun, fun, fun – in others words, you should not be reading this from a vacation hamlet.

How much time do you take off during the summer? What are some of the challenges with separating work and the office? What steps do you take to free yourself?

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