Do you find it hard to disconnect from the office during vacation? You’re not alone. Many people remain tied to their smartphones and laptops while they lounge on the beach or watch television. They may follow issues or respond to work emails, even though they are officially out of the office.

In fact, a recent study in the US found more than half — about 54 per cent of workers — don’t disconnect from the office during their vacation, a staggering increase for 41 per cent a year earlier. The trend isn’t a good sign for work-life balance and it is not exclusive to the US. Across the world, easy access to email and social media keeps people connected almost at all times, which is not healthy or productive.

Even employers often encourage staff to take time to recharge to avoid burnout, which is also a way to dispel any misconception that constant availability is a sign of dedication. In reality, people who are connected and available all the time may hurt their own prospects. In addition to an inevitable burnout, working continuously can cloud your perceptions and lead you to make less-than-informed decisions or write incomplete emails.

If you’re expected to remain on call or receive office email notifications on your phone in case of an emergency, that is a different situation, where being connected is part of your job. In all cases, you should consider the following.

Define emergencies

Talk openly with your supervisor about what types of emails or text messages require an immediate response. Someone reaching out to schedule a meeting in the next couple of weeks probably could wait for this until the next business day. A social media crisis may warrant action right away.

Even once you establish what accounts for an emergency, plan on how often you will check your work email during weekend, evenings and vacations. If you’re not paid to be on call, you probably should not be expected to keep an eye constantly on your work email. So is twice a day acceptable? Thrice? Can you share this workload — because it is still work since it is taking time and attention — with another staff member?

Clarifying all of these points could help you ease the pressure of feeling accountable or required to be constantly involved with work matters.

Clarify and respect your boundaries

People are different. Some don’t want to disconnect from work, because they are passionate about it or because their lifestyle allows for more work. You don’t have to join this group. If you’re already on the healthy end of respecting and enjoying your personal and family time, keep it this way.

Others are going to adjust to your pace and needs. In almost every workplace, there are people who are expected to respond to every email and every message within an hour, and others who get back to you on the next business day. It is all a matter of managing expectations, as long as this type of responsiveness is not part of your job requirements.

Find the right response

In some cases, responding to work email immediately or after work hours makes sense. For example, if you’re planning something with coworkers and you know that their next move hinges on your responses. In other times, rushing to respond can be a mistake. It could be because you don’t have all the information, you’re distracted, or simply because you will type your response on your phone without the opportunity to review it properly.

Any of these situations could lead you to write a response that you regret later. In addition, this response coming on a Friday evening or a holiday has an added significance to the recipient who thinks that you certainly care about the issue. So the contradiction between taking an action quickly and writing a poor email can be confusing and unprofessional.

Slow down. If you’re not a surgeon, a stock trader, or in any other fields where a split-second decision could be a life-and-death situation, you really can sit back, relax and enjoy a movie or chat with your family without constantly glancing at your work email.

The writer, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is a Seattle-based editor.

Can you disconnect?

Responsiveness doesn’t always mean immediate action

Respect your own needs and boundaries

Don’t rush to respond if you’re not focused and prepared

High productivity requires rest and rejuvenation

R.O.