How to Return from Vacation Without Derailing Your Business
You’ve finally done it—you took a well-deserved vacation, unplugged from work, and actually relaxed. But now you’re back... and your inbox is overflowing, your team is waiting, and it feels like you need to cannonball back into the deep end.
Pause.
Before you splash everyone and send your business into chaos, let’s talk about how to return from vacation the right way—one that protects your peace, supports your team, and sets you up for sustainable success.
Step 1: Give Yourself a Soft Landing
Your first day back should be free of meetings and heavy decision-making. This is your soft landing—a buffer between vacation mode and full-speed-ahead CEO energy. Use this day to:
Skim through emails and Slack threads
Review your task list
Catch up on what happened while you were gone
Check your dashboards, metrics, and any key business reports
Avoid solving problems or making judgments. Just observe. Think of yourself as a consultant doing an audit. You’re collecting information, not diving into action.
Step 2: Review Before You React
It’s tempting to jump into problem-solving mode when you see a long thread about a messy email campaign or a drop in website traffic. But don’t focus on volume—focus on trends.
Ask yourself:
Are we having the same conversation across multiple channels?
Are delays or confusion tied to missing information or unclear ownership?
Is there a deeper process issue underneath the surface noise?
Instead of reacting to each issue, look for patterns that reveal root causes. Then decide if they even need your input—or if the team’s already got it under control.
Step 3: Reconnect With Your Vision
After reviewing what happened, it’s time to reorient around what matters most.
Ask:
What are the priorities for this quarter and the rest of the year?
What can wait? What’s urgent?
What ideas or issues from your inbox actually align with your strategic goals?
The break likely gave you clarity and maybe even sparked new ideas. That’s amazing. And without intention, those inspired ideas can derail your team’s momentum. Before chasing a new direction, decide:
What are we stopping?
What are we continuing?
What are we starting?
And pick just one to three things to focus on your first week back. The rest can wait.
Step 4: Assess Delegation—and Keep What Works
Vacation is a built-in delegation test. Ask yourself:
What responsibilities were handed off?
Who handled what?
Where did they thrive, and where did they struggle?
If delegation was successful and your team didn’t burn out, leave it in place. Don’t pull everything back just because you’re back. Sustainable leadership means distributing responsibility so you can focus on strategy and growth.
Step 5: Reset Your Routines and Boundaries
Your calendar may have slowly loosened its structure pre-vacation, now is the time to reinforce it. That means:
Blocking off your ideal work hours
Holding firm to communication boundaries (no texts, no weekend Slacks)
Avoiding the “do you have a second?” pop-ins
Your brain craves familiarity. Returning to your routine will make the transition smoother—and help maintain the calm you gained while away.
Bonus: Debrief With Your Team
Schedule a quick “return from vacation” debrief. Ask your team:
What worked well while I was gone?
Where did things break down?
What can we improve for next time?
And be honest with them too:
Where did you struggle?
What were you tempted to micromanage?
How did it feel to really step away?
This conversation creates trust, helps refine future hand-offs, and gives your team the recognition they deserve.
Final Thoughts
Taking time away should make your business stronger, not shakier. And that only happens if you return with intention, clarity, and curiosity—not chaos. Plan your return like you planned your vacation: thoughtfully.
You’ve got this. And if you follow this process, your next vacation will feel even more possible—and your team will be the ones cheering you on to take it.
