How long does it take you to start relaxing on holiday

[amaroo]

I'm into it as soon as I start packing - always last minute.

I'm relaxed at work so hols are no different. I've always taken calls, answered emails while away - found it's better to sort "whatever" on the spot. It's very easy to do without interrupting the family holiday - I'm an early riser.....it's all done before the crew get out of bed.

 

[Zulaiha]

Holiday? What is that? I have stop working, thus everyday is holiday

In more serious notes: As I have travel a bit during my youth, holiday these days is almost equal to taking hubby and or child(ren) to one or other destination of their choice, during which time I still am the one who arrange this and that, thus no holiday here it is more like work for me

 

[gwilli1]

As soon as I walk out the door from work , i shift into holiday mode straight away.

 

[AvroAnson]

I have a going away checklist at the office - for each current job it lists the client, staff working on it, status, tasks to be done and other details. I know that if my colleagues look at that from time to time, everything will be OK.

Still, I don't really settle into holiday mode until I'm seated on the plane.

 

[Wayamba]

Normally its been a couple of days, but this time with 6 mths lead up to 2 mth holiday it was less than 10 mins. I was so relaxed on drive home from work i stopped at friend's house on way home and got him to drive my car and me home as i wasn't concenteating on home ( i paid for his taxi home).
Today was meant to cover most of must dos before i leave on wednesday am, achieve 1 because a friend did it fir me.
So basically this time it was instant.

 

[Shelf]

Work commitments and children are the variables for my holiday relaxation. All things going well I'm either relaxed 2 says prior, or on the first day of the trip.

This is the last day of a family trip to CNS. I've checked the work emails a few times and all seems good. The children have been rude, stubborn and argumentative.

 

[OATEK]

For me, if it is an overseas holiday its once I clear immigration and find a seat in the QANTAS lounge. SWMBO reckons she can see the worry wash off my face with that first glass of bubbly.

But even on a domestic holiday, it certainly happens by the time I am sitting on the plane, even if its J* (which it has been twice)!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

From the second I book the tickets

 

[vertisol]

I'm a public servant which in most people's mind says I'm always on holidays but I do run anumber of large projects so the reality is a bit different.

What I've started doing is turning off my mobile and leaving a contact number of the hotel/ resort etc and say if you need me then call them and say it is urgent. I find that people will think twice about ringing a landline to leave a message over ringing your mobile which people don't seem to mind doing no matter how trivial or imposing it might be..

 

[Pushka]

The landline instead of the mobile is a really good idea. I think we make ourselves too accessible. I worked over the weekend and told people today I wasn't working after around 11.30am. Of course I got an urgent phone call at 12 noon. Just because others can't manage expectations.

I'm looking forward to a cruise next march and one of the things I'm most looking forward to is total inaccessibility from work. Will make a change from the so called holiday last month.

 

[MartinMemo]

I agree with a lot of these posts - All it takes for me is to sit down in the lounge with a beer and some of that gross nut mix VA has and im relaxed.

 

[aupirate]

I think the ability to "switch off" could be a comment on how much of a control freak a person is. Speaking for myself I normally take around 4 days, however a recent week long break and an ongoing project made switching off difficult. Maybe I should have gone overseas where the "smart phone" doesn`t work as well...

 

[harvyk]

For me, I don't mind checking my phone whilst on holiday, and I have no problem in responding to an email which I deem is urgent. Prior to going I make sure that everyone who is likely to want to contact me knows I'm away, and I put in place systems to make sure things keep ticking over.

For me I find I can relax far easier knowing that everything back at the office is still ticking over and that I won't arrive back to a disaster on my return. I'd also kick myself if a disaster was brewing and a simple email from myself could have defused the situation. Just because I might check my phone a couple of times a day (mainly for FB) does not mean I'm not relaxing. In fact one of our large projects we won whilst I was away on holiday, the SMS to tell me we'd won the work put me in an excellent mood.

Phone calls on the other hand, I have no problems telling the person that I am away and I'll speak to them on my return.

 

[Alanslegal]

I am going against the flow here but for me to be properly relaxed and really in "holiday" mode, I would say it takes at least 24 hours after arriving at my destination. Yes enjoying champagne and (sometimes) sitting up front makes me feel all nice inside but I am not yet fully relaxed as I am still travelling and getting on my way. Its not until I arrive, unpack, and then some time after that it feels 'really nice'.

 

[vitagen]

It takes me about 4 days to really relax. Hence why my short holidays/weekends away Don't really work.

I however love sitting on a plane as it forces you to disconnect from the world.

 

[JohnK]

I start to wind down in the last week before the trip. I usually countdown the days and it goes really quick the last few weeks. Around 2-3 days before the trip I get very anxious and try to make sure everything is in order. The day of the flight I am really anxious and usually do not have an appetite even if flight is in afternoon. When I get to airport, check-in, through immigration and security and sit down in the lounge I am finally relaxed. A feeling of accomplishment.

When I arrive at destination I am full of adrenalin and say the first 5-6 days of an 11-12 day trip it feels like time is going slow. Then the last few days go really quickly and then at the airport coming back the countdown starts for the next trip.

I start winding down the minute the flights are booked! By the time we are in the airport lounge I'm in full party mode. That's just how we roll...

I have just booked flights for June 2014 and planning November 2014. Better not start winding down now otherwise I am going to be in big trouble.

 

[trentusjuventus]

A lot of the time I'm heading to the airport straight from work, or doing a quick work-home-airport dash in order to maximize time at my destination, so it's kinda hard to wind down. However, a feeling of calm and anticipation does descend upon me when I walk through the doors into the check-in hall. By the time I'm through immigration and enjoying a beer I'm usually getting there, but for me when I get to the hotel at my destination, put my feet up and have a drink, then I'm on holiday!

 

[Wayamba]

Having just got back last week from 2 month holiday, I was shocked how i had relaxed the moment i hit 1st lounge in sydney after domestic transfer. The minute i had completed immigration and front the lounge (1st time) i felt a wave of calm hit me andni just enjoyed myself until i hit the domestic on my return.

 

[Geoffm]

For me, I don't mind checking my phone whilst on holiday, and I have no problem in responding to an email which I deem is urgent. Prior to going I make sure that everyone who is likely to want to contact me knows I'm away, and I put in place systems to make sure things keep ticking over.

For me I find I can relax far easier knowing that everything back at the office is still ticking over and that I won't arrive back to a disaster on my return. I'd also kick myself if a disaster was brewing and a simple email from myself could have defused the situation. Just because I might check my phone a couple of times a day (mainly for FB) does not mean I'm not relaxing. In fact one of our large projects we won whilst I was away on holiday, the SMS to tell me we'd won the work put me in an excellent mood.

Phone calls on the other hand, I have no problems telling the person that I am away and I'll speak to them on my return.

I am in the same vane- easier to relax knowing all is well and that I will not be returning to problems that will quickly fade the memories.

 

[drewbles]

My holidays are usually never truly relaxing. It comes with the job and the fact my role is as a part of a very small group of people, each of us with our own unique skill sets. There is a little crossover of knowledge but it largely means I'm always on call, even when I'm holidays. Thankfully I'm only called in absolute emergencies but I tend to keep an eye on my email (like a hawk)

That said I had a great true week off the other week. Was such a great feeling. Slipped into that within am hour of arriving