Summer is here! Vacation season is upon us! And for many attorneys, that means a familiar internal debate. "Should I completely unplug while on vacation...or should I bring my laptop just in case?"
For some lawyers, the answer has become a hybrid approach know as a "workcation," a trip that combines travel and leisure with professional responsibilities. Thanks to remote work technology, lawyers can now draft documents on a plane, answer emails from a hotel lobby, or score 30% off on-demand CLE credits in a beautiful beach house. But just because you can work on vacation doesn't necessarily mean you should, especially given the high rate of burnout within the profession.
So...are workcations worth it? As with most legal questions, the answer depends. Let's take a closer look in this second installment of our summer blog series "Lawyers Need Vacations Too!"
The rise of the workcation. A long time ago, vacations and work were completely separate worlds. You were either in office, or you weren't. But the rise of technology, coupled with remote work becoming normalized due to the pandemic, has blurred those boundaries. We now have the ability to work virtually from anywhere so long as there is a reliable internet connection. This flexibility has made it easier to extend trips and visit family, but it's a double-edged sword.
For some lawyers, this flexibility feels liberating. For others, it can feel like work has followed them on vacation and there is no reprieve.
The case for working while traveling. It can't be denied that there are advantages to taking a workcation. Attorneys with busy practices may find it easier to take longer trips when they know they can remain available for urgent matters. A workcation can reduce the anxiety that sometimes accompanies a traditional vacation. Rather than returning to hundreds of unread emails and a to-do list that stretches for a mile, attorneys can still stay caught up while enjoying a change in scenery. Simply stepping away from the office environment can be refreshing, even if your work laptop is along for the ride.
If you find yourself never taking a vacation because it's too difficult to pull away, the workcation may be your solution.
The problem with always being available. We've all felt it in this day and age. The expectation that you must always be available. The danger, in this case, is that a workcation is a slippery slope that can easily become all work and very little vacation. Next thing you know...burnout.
Many attorneys have already experienced this firsthand. You promise yourself you're only going to check your email real quick. Then a client issue arises. One phone call becomes three. Suddenly, the day is gone.
Both your brain and body need genuine periods of recovery. Constantly being on...monitoring emails, responding to problems, focusing on work...that can have an adverse effect on your well-being. Vacations are meant to provide a mental reset that will keep you performing at your best in the long run. Which is why a workcation may not be the solution for everyone.
The key? Setting boundaries. The most successful workcations tend to have one thing in common: boundaries. Instead of remaining available at all hours, some attorneys designate specific windows for work and reserve the rest of the day for relaxation. Others limit themselves to checking email one or twice a day.
The goal isn't perfection, but finding what works best for you, and that will look different for everyone. Find enough separation between the two so that your vacation still feels like a vacation. In order to do that, you have to...
Know your personality. Some lawyers thrive on staying connected. They enjoy the flexibility of handling a few tasks, then spending the rest of the day exploring a new city or relaxing by the pool. Having their work with them might leave them happier and less anxious than they would be without it. Others might find that even a small amount of work keeps them mentally tethered to the office. For these attorneys, true rest only happens when they disconnect completely. Work and vacation are opposite sides of a switch, and that's how they like it.
Neither approach is right or wrong. It's all about understanding what helps you recharge rather than simply assuming more availability is always better. Do you know where you fall?
Don't forget why you're there. Vacations serve an important purpose. They provide an opportunity to rest, gain perspective, spend time with loved ones, and so much more. When it's over, you'll return to work with renewed energy! (Well, hopefully...if that doesn't sound like you, then keep an eye out for a future blog post in this series all about a successful reentry strategy after vacation.)
If a workcation allows you to do all of those things while maintaining flexibility, then it may be a worthwhile compromise. But if you find yourself spending more time starting at a screen than the sky, it might be worth reconsidering whether a workcation is worth it for you. After all, your email inbox will still be there when you get back.
And remember: Sometimes, the most productive thing a lawyer can do, is to step away from work entirely. Enjoy the start of summer and the beautiful weather!
