On Vacation—But Still Reachable Despite Your Out-Of-Office Message?

Vacation should be about relaxation, not constant pinging and vibrating cell phones. Mental coach Kerstin Schmidt’s article shows you how to set clear boundaries for digital stress with a wink. Learn how to practice self-care instead of constant availability and enjoy your free time so that you return home feeling refreshed and not exhausted.

Vacation: It sounds like the sound of the sea, hiking boots on soft forest trails, or a leisurely breakfast on the balcony. But what shouldn’t be heard is the constant pinging of your smartphone or the nervous vibration in your beach bag. And yet, many of us have one foot in the pool and the other still in the office. The out-of-office message is activated, but when the boss calls, we still pick up the phone.

Why is it so difficult to really let go on vacation? And how can you organize your free time so that you return home feeling refreshed instead of exhausted?

Why we remain available despite being “out of the office”

There are good reasons why we don’t switch off completely when we’re on vacation:

• Sense of duty: We don’t want to “let our colleagues down.”
• Need for control: Fear that important decisions will be made without us.
• Habit: Our smartphones have become our constant companions, and we automatically reach for them.

All of this is human nature. But it comes at a price: if you constantly check your emails while on vacation, your brain won’t get the break it needs from work mode. Relaxation then remains a theoretical concept, and the restorative effect evaporates faster than sunscreen absorbs into your skin.

Self-care instead of constant availability

Self-care on vacation doesn’t start when you pack your suitcase, but rather during the preparation phase. Imagine not allowing your body to sleep for three weeks—absurd, right? It’s just as absurd not to give your mind a real break on vacation.

Concrete steps:

1. Make clear agreements: Clearly define who is authorized to represent you and under what circumstances you would like to be contacted. “Only in case of emergency” should actually mean: only in case of emergency.
2. Be honest in your out-of-office message: Don’t write “I check my emails occasionally.” Instead, write: “I will be unavailable until [date]. In urgent cases, please contact [name, contact details].”
3. Build in technical hurdles: Remove the email app from your home screen or make a conscious effort to log out. The more clicks it takes, the less likely you are to give in to temptation.

Letting go takes practice

You may be thinking: That sounds nice—but what if I feel the urge to do something? In this case, it helps to practice conscious letting go.

• Mind training: When you feel the urge to quickly check your emails, pause for a moment. Take three deep breaths and ask yourself: “Will this message still be waiting for me tomorrow?”
• Distraction with pleasure: Focus your attention on something you really enjoy doing: swimming, reading, photography, simply observing the world.
• A dash of humor: Have fun counting how often you don’t look at your phone. Maybe keep a little “abstinence diary” and reward yourself in the evening with a cocktail or a scoop of ice cream.

The fear of missing out

FOMO—the fear of missing out—isn’t just a thing on social media. At work, too, we think: if I’m not available, something important will happen and I’ll be left out. A change of perspective can help here:

• You are not irreplaceable, and that’s a good thing. Only when a team can manage without you does it really work.
• Most things are not as urgent as they seem. Urgency often arises in our minds or from the habit of reacting immediately.
• Rest makes you better. Those who come back rested are more creative, clearer-headed, and more resilient.

Digital detox light – here’s how it works

You don’t have to lock your cell phone in a safe right away (although that would also be an option). Even small steps can help:

• Turn off notifications: no pings, no vibrations, no annoying flashes.
• Set up “cell phone-free zones”: while eating, at the beach, or on hikes.
• Set check times: if you really can’t go completely offline, set a fixed time (e.g., 10 minutes in the afternoon) when you check your emails. After that, it’s free time again.

After the vacation: preserving the recuperative effect

Many people return feeling refreshed, only to find themselves just as stressed as before after two days. To prevent this from happening:

• Ease back in: Plan your first day back without any big meetings.
• Keep up your relaxation rituals: Maybe you meditated in the mornings or went for walks in the evenings while on vacation. Keep up these habits.
• Redraw your boundaries: Use your fresh perspective to make your availability rules clearer in your everyday life.

Conclusion with a wink

Vacation is like a relationship: both only work if you are truly present. If you are constantly half at the office, you will neither fully relax nor enjoy the most beautiful moments of your vacation. Your out-of-office message is not only intended for others; it is a promise to yourself: I am currently unavailable because I am important to myself.

So, leave your cell phone in your backpack, enjoy your cappuccino by the sea or the rustling of leaves in the forest. Work will wait, and it won’t be offended if you don’t talk to it again until after your vacation.

Quick checklist for your suitcase:

• Pack your swimsuit ✅
• Pack your favorite book ✅
• Set your out-of-office reply ✅
• Leave your guilt at home ✅

Because the best souvenir from your vacation isn’t a seashell or a fridge magnet, it’s the feeling of having truly switched off.