Vacation Wrap-Up - Key Productivity Strategy

Why is it that we seem to get so much done the day before we leave for vacation?

There is something about the anticipation of free-time that feels like a reward for a job well done. When that is paired with the good feeling that comes from completion and the anxiety that results from leaving unfinished tasks hanging over your head, you have an unbeatable combination of incentives.

So, how exactly can we use this vacation wrap-up strategy every day or at the very least every week? First we need to look at the steps involved in the process and see how they can be adapted for regular everyday productivity.

• Set a firm deadline- The very nature of a vacation implies that you must leave your office or home at a certain time or at least a specific day. There is very little wiggle room due to external constraints (flights, reservations, angry spouses.) This leaves no room for procrastination.
• Establish a compelling incentive- The prospect of relaxation, travel, family time or even extra sleep can be pretty strong motivators.  What is your pay-off for completion? Money, company standing, relationship harmony, a promotion, integrity (the value of keeping your word can not be over-valued.) If you don't know what your incentive is then you need to question why you are doing it in the first place.
• Clarify what an acceptable outcome is- There is no place for perfection in vacation wrap-up mode. There just isn't the time for that type of mindset. What is the ideal end result? What is the absolute minimum? Is there a result somewhere in between both extremes that would be acceptable and reasonable?
• Determine what actions are absolutely critical for completion- This is a bare bones working plan that includes only the essential tasks. There is no room for busy work, ineffective procedures and wasting time. Eliminate anything non-essential and streamline the most effective actions.
• Sharpen your focus- do not allow distractions and interruptions. This is not the time for gossiping at the water cooler or cubicle, playing games on the internet or talking to your friends on Facebook. Concentrate fully on the task or project at hand. You'd be surprised by how much time is wasted during a traditional work day. In fact, according to ?tab=psn&cat=cat011&ser=ser033%E2%88%82=par1083" Salary.com , 36% of people waste 2 or more hours per day. That's520 hoursevery year - it's like getting65 additional work days! Just think how much you could get done in that amount of time...

Some other factors to consider that are not really tangible steps but non-the-less have a significant impact are attitude, energy and satisfaction. Usually we are in a very positive upbeat frame of mind prior to vacation. We generally seem to have these unusual reserves of energy most likely caused by anticipation and excitement. We also are much happier with our job and less stressed because we know we are getting a break very soon.  While these intangibles are difficult to measure they are in many ways just as critical to the process as the actual steps.

Try using this process each morning (or each Friday if that is all you can manage.) Pretend you are going away or perhaps plan a small reward each evening as incentive. How much more enjoyable work could be if every day wasthe last day before vacation!