{"id":359671,"date":"2021-07-06T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/?p=359671"},"modified":"2025-07-22T21:44:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T01:44:10","slug":"vacation-when-you-work-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/work-from-home-lifestyle\/vacation-when-you-work-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take a Vacation When You Work from Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated July 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Americans are notorious for not taking enough vacations \u2014 even when they\u2019ve earned the time off. And for remote workers, the lines between work and personal life can blur so much that taking a real break feels out of reach. But stepping away from your home office is essential for your mental health and long-term productivity. If you’re wondering how to take a vacation when you work from home, we\u2019ve got you covered with practical tips to help you unplug, recharge, and return refreshed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Importance of Vacations for Remote Workers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you work from home, it\u2019s easy to stay glued to your screen for longer hours, skip breaks, and blur the lines between personal time and work time. Over time, this constant grind can take a serious toll on your well-being. Increased productivity is great \u2014 until it leads to burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burnout is a state of chronic stress often marked by exhaustion, cynicism, and a lack of motivation. It typically occurs when you’re overworked, feel out of control, or disconnected from a sense of purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many ways to manage burnout, but taking a vacation when you work from home is one of the most effective. Whether you visit loved ones, take a spontaneous road trip, or unwind at a retreat, the key is to truly unplug and prioritize rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Relaxation Can Improve Remote Employee Productivity<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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The Benefits of a Vacation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If this is your first vacation as a remote worker, you may still hesitate to take time off. Perhaps you feel insecure and invisible working from home, concerned that you can be replaced. Or maybe you just find it difficult to unplug and leave work behind for a period of time. If you\u2019re a freelancer, the obstacles to taking a non-working vacation are more difficult to overcome. Jobs need to be deferred, clients need to be notified, and there is always the possibility of losing a project or contract while away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the challenges however, taking a vacation is an important way to get respite and recharge<\/a>. Science has shown that vacations reduce stress, prevent heart disease, improve productivity, and give you a good night\u2019s sleep. It is even more important for remote workers to get away because, unlike office workers, if you work from home, you never leave the office. With these benefits in mind and a little advance preparation, you can take the plunge and vacation with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How To Prepare for Your Vacation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The right preparation will go a long way to ensuring your peace of mind while on vacation when you work from home. Follow these simple steps before you leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Plan Your Days off<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you set the dates for your vacation, try to plan around slow periods to limit the work that will pile up while you\u2019re away. In addition, make sure to give your manager and\/or clients plenty of advance notice. This gives your clients and employers enough time to dish out tasks you need to complete before you leave. It\u2019s also important for you to communicate clearly to any team members or vendors that are affected by your absence. Make sure to set expectations for work to be completed while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Organize Your Workload<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

List and prioritize all the tasks that you need to complete before you leave and work ahead if necessary. With no supervisor looking over your shoulder, you need to complete any critical tasks or have them covered or finished by others. Prioritizing into \u201cmust be done\u201d and \u201cnice to do\u201d is important as well. And if you don’t get into the “nice to do” pile, don’t stress. As long as your necessary work is done, head off to your vacation stress-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Communicate Your Plans<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the time approaches for you to go, let everyone know what your plans are for vacation when you work from home. Since you\u2019re not in the office every day, add information to emails, in chat channels, and on Zoom meetings. Don\u2019t be afraid to repeat yourself if necessary. Provide an alternate contact if appropriate and let people know when you\u2019ll back. Set your \u201cout of office\u201d message on your email and voicemail as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prepare to Unplug<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Screen time has increased for all of us in the past several years, as much as we hate to admit it. So, do yourself a favor and unplug as much as possible on vacation. Buy a paperback novel, play some shuffleboard, go swimming, leave your laptop at home, and use your smartphone sparingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guide To Taking Time Off as an Independent Contractor<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Workation vs. Vacation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the perks of working remotely is the opportunity to work from anywhere you wish. This means that if you are unable to get away for a non-work vacation when you work from home, you may have the option of working while on vacation. This is great if you have little or no paid time off, or if you are a freelancer and can\u2019t afford to take any time off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pros:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n