The winter holidays are here, and my vacation time is approaching. This time of year, as well as any other time I take a vacation, presents an interesting challenge. Short-Timer syndrome as I’ve termed it refers to the loss of motivation I experience when I know I’m not going to be around for a while. Why should I put in the extra effort to get something done when I’m not going to be here? I know I’m not the only one who experiences this, but it’s hardly the only response to this kind of situation. Some people experience a kind of overload, working harder to get everything done before they go. This is not the case for me, I tend to do less. So how do I deal with this?
The main technique I use to combat Short-Timer syndrome is the tried-and-true check list. Not just any check-list though. I create a daily check-list of the minimum number of tasks that would make me comfortable leaving and not returning to an overloaded inbox. I only add things to my list that I can complete in a single day, things that will have the largest impact possible while still being achievable, and no more than 5 tasks per day. If I don’t finish all the tasks, that’s fine. The remaining items move to the next days list, right up to the last day. Anything that’s left on the final day before I leave is communicated to my managers so they can work with those that are covering while I’m out. As long as I finish one task per day, I can feel confident that I’ve made enough progress towards a relaxing vacation. If I don’t finish anything, this usually means the tasks are too big or vague and I review the tasks I’ve chosen to see if I can break them down any further.
This is not a new concept, and I am certainly not taking credit for it, but I do find that it helps keep me going when I start to lose motivation for any reason. If you have your own tricks for staying motivated when vacations are looming, please comment.