Anyone who really knows me knows that when I go on holiday, I rarely fully detach from work. In fact, I have always believed that a complete separation between work and vacation is a false dichotomy. Instead, I see it as a spectrum with varying levels of work engagement.
My recent travels helped me to reflect on what these levels could be, and I characterised them by considering the potential for intervention in unexpected work issues.
Level 0: No holiday, hence working. This is the baseline.
Level 1: Enjoying a new environment (geographically different location), but maintaining regular work hours and responsibilities. Free time is limited to local activities.
Level 2: Taking a break, but with the ability to address urgent issues or dedicate some time to work if needed, thanks to laptop access.
Level 3: Disconnecting from active work but remaining available for essential communication and high-level decisions. Think email access and delegation, but no direct project involvement. Achieved mostly via smartphone/tablet. Delays are expected.
Level 4: A complete break from work with no access to emails or updates. True relaxation and detachment from work responsibilities.
This framework is particularly useful for communicating and setting expectations with the rest of your team.
These categories have been developed in collaboration with Dr. Alba Morales Tirado from the Knowledge Media Institute of The Open University.
* Header picture: Praia da Rainha (near Lisbon) shot in August 2023, when on holiday with Level 3 of potential for intervention.
