In a recent post we talked about the importance of getting away every once in a while and taking a much needed vacation. Perhaps you’ve taken our advice and booked a getaway in the next few weeks to enjoy some fun in the sun. One important thing to remember before you head out of the office is that you can use the rest and relaxation to recharge your batteries and come back to work with a vengeance. Here are a few tips to help you get back in the swing of things following a vacation and maximize all the energy you'll have gained during your time off.

Prepare Ahead of Time – Before you leave, make sure that all of the most critical items on your to-do list have been tackled or are at least under control. This will make returning from your trip much less chaotic and stressful. For the tasks that didn’t get handled before you trip, plan ahead on how you will handle them upon your return. It may mean scheduling a day to run errands or tacking on an extra hour of work to each day, but having a well thought out plan in place ahead of time will make it much more manageable. 

Put Your Ideas into Action – Admit it – while you were lying on that beach, sipping a piña colada your mind was busy thinking about ways you can grow your business or increase sales. Rest and relaxation can be a great way to generate new and innovative ideas. So take advantage of your newfound genius and jot down or create a voice memo of your thoughts as they come to you. Then, when you return to the office, create some action plans to implement your newfound ideas.

Ease into Things – You’ll probably be tempted to hit the ground running, but give yourself a break and try to ease back into the swing of things gradually. Otherwise, you’ll likely find yourself stressed to the max on day one, which will completely negate the benefits of your vacation. Set aside specific time to check and respond to email, go through important paperwork and schedule appointments, but don’t try to do everything as soon as you walk back into your office. Don't worry - little by little, you’ll get back on track.

Share the Wealth – Chances are during your time off you were able to relax and recharge. When you get back, be sure to pass on some of that newfound energy to your hard working employees. Remember that just as you need to get away from the office from time to time, so do your employees. Take a moment to reevaluate their current vacation days and encourage them to use their time off. The benefit to you is that they’ll return just as recharged as you were when you got back from your getaway and be ready to work with gusto.

Running a small business may be a 24/7/365 job, but taking time off is important – no, critical – to your sanity and the success of your company. By employing these simple techniques you can get the rest and relaxation you need to recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your creativity, and make your return to work as smooth and efficient as possible.