The Conversation About Being Unavailable Starts Before Your Vacation

The Conversation About Being Unavailable Starts Before Your Vacation

Taking a vacation without checking email is easier when colleagues and managers discuss boundaries in advance and everyone knows who will cover what.

Being unavailable isn’t just a personal decision; it also affects the people who share your tasks and responsibilities. Let your colleagues know your time-off dates early, hand over the information they need, and agree on who will cover for you. That way, they won’t have to guess what to do if something urgent comes up. Open communication also helps create a workplace where taking time to rest is a normal part of working life, not something to feel guilty about.

Interested in this topic? Read more: How to Take a Vacation Without Emails: A Practical Guide to Disconnecting Well Want to find out where you stand personally? Take a short test at the end of the page and gain a better understanding.

How does this apply to you? Choose the answers that describe you best:

Imagine that your vacation starts tomorrow and you lose access to the internet. What comes to your mind first?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

If you had a completely empty day without plans on vacation, what would you do first?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

You close your laptop, put away your phone. What is the first image that comes to your mind?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

You are facing a decision – 7 days without contact with work. What inner voices do you hear?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

While wandering the city, you come across a small gallery. What will you do?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

Imagine that someone takes over your tasks in your absence. How do you feel?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

There is no wifi in the room. What will you do?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

Imagine that you receive a card with one sentence every day. Which one describes you the best?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

Upon returning from vacation, you find 324 emails. How do you react?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

On the beach, you observe people who keep checking their phones. What do you feel?

Choose the answer that best describes you.

Vacation without emails: A truly bold step?

Get an evaluation of your answers

Enter your email to create an account and link this test to it. After you submit all 10 answers, we’ll show your evaluation on the page and email you a link.