With the holidays quickly approaching, food truck owners around the country plan to take some time off the streets to spend time with their family and friends. Unfortunately, when you return from vacation, there will be many things awaiting you on your first day back.

  • A full inbox.
  • A long list of to-dos.
  • Staff and customers needing your attention.

How To Return From Vacation The Right Way

If you dive right in to your work, you’re likely to wipe out all the benefits of taking this time off. Instead, get back in the swing of things while maintaining some of the calm and restoration. Block off your morning. Make sure you don’t have any meetings scheduled or big projects due. Then before you open your inbox, pause and think about your work priorities. As you make your way through emails and voice mails  focus on returning the messages that are connected to what matters most. Defer or delegate things that aren’t top priority. And remember it will probably take more than one day to get caught up, so be easy on yourself.

  • Recap Your Vacation. Before you listen to that first voicemail, sit quietly for a minute, and think about what you most liked about yourself on vacation. Was it the relaxed way you listened to the people you were with? Maybe it was the time you allowed your mind to wander?
  • Plan For The New Year. In order to get the right things done, we need a filter to help us decide what not to get done. Identify the most important things you want to focus on for the year.
  • Set Time Aside. It’s a good idea to block out your first morning back from vacation. This allows you to go through what’s waiting for you. Don’t just jump right in.

RELATED: Email Management: Learn How To Keep Your Mailbox Under Control

The Bottom Line

Remember that this doesn’t just have to be your return from vacation plan. Learn to plan ahead, rely on your staff members, and understand that sometimes, it’s inevitable that you’ll miss out on that last minute request, and you’ll be that much more productive when you return.

How do you typically return from vacation? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section social media. Facebook | Twitter