1. (Officially) start off on your holidays a day earlier.
   Tell all your friends, family and workmates who you are not closely involved with, that your holiday starts a day earlier than it really does. Otherwise, the workload will probably just pile up on your last day – while your phone does not stop ringing...
2. Don't make ANY appointments at your last day at work.
   Use the day to focus on all the tasks you do not want to leave behind for whoever is going to cover for you while you are gone. This also applies for ANY private appointments such as doctor's visits or an appointment with your hairdresser. Such things ALWAYS take longer than you thought – and you will start your holidays still trying to catch your breath.
   
   
3. Try to finish all urgent or complicated tasks before leaving the office.
   Otherwise, your thoughts will keep drifting back to work while you are trying to relax.
   
   
4. Let your holidays be holidays.
   Do not take ANY work-related stuff – however urgent – with you. You deserve a break and you should take it. Try to avoid reading professional publications as well as daily newspapers or management journals.
5. Be blunt with your supervisor or your representative:
   Tell them that you only want as many tasks on your desk when you get back as your break had days. This way, you avoid not being able to enjoy the last days of your holidays because the thought of all the work ahead of you is downright SCARY.
   
   
6. Conveniently “forget” your mobile or smart-phone.
   If that's not possible (not that I could think of many reasons why not - you can always get a second "emergency-phone" of which only a handful of people get to know the number), try keeping it switched off. Let your mailbox do all the work for you and decide for yourself if and when you want to return the calls.
   
   
7. Start your packing at least 4 days before heading off.
   Leave yourself enough time to go shopping for replacements if they don't look as good on you any more as you remember them.
   
   
8. Leave your watch at home.
   There should be no need for accurate time-keeping on your holidays. In case of an emergency, you can always ask your partner or a fellow traveller what time it is.
   
   
9. Start “tuning-in” to holiday mood whilst still being at home!
   Take a good travel guide to bed or try watching a DVD about your holiday destination. Make yourself familiar with the place you are heading for and avoid a “culture-shock” on arrival...
   
   
10. Try celebrating the start of your holidays:
    Why not enjoy a glass of wine on the flight?
    
    
11. While abroad, you should suffer from severe lapses of memory whenever it comes to time-management and self-organization. There is only one crucial task during your break: RELAX
    
    
12. Cut back on stress-levels:
    You do not have to see EVERY museum in the place or climb up every mountain. TAKE IT EASY – just for a couple of days.
    
    
13. The perfectionist in you has to stay at home (preferrably locked up in the top-drawer of your desk). Do not spoil your hard-earned break by being annoyed each time the waiters are (in your opinion) too slow or your drink is too warm.
14. Apply rule number one on your return:
    Tell everybody, you return one to two days later than you actually do. Doing so gives you a bit of extra time to get back into your “normal” routine without anyone bothering you before you even get back to your workplace.
    
    
15. Remember your holiday.
    Is there a photo you really like that brings back good memories immediately? Take it to your office and put it on your desk. What's wrong with a short day-dream about lying on a beach or climbing up a mountain?

Leisure-time: The best time of the year. Whether we choose to take our loved ones to an exotic country or take a short break in a first-class spa with our best friend... New experiences are guaranteed.
Share your travel experiences with us and tell us about everything you think worth knowing about the hideaway you discovered down just around the corner from you or on your most recent trip to the continent. We are looking forward to hear EVERYTHING...