How to Take a Vacation Without Bringing Work With You (and Without Feeling Guilty)

Are you technically on vacation, but still checking your phone for test results, answering messages or worrying about your patients? Many physicians physically leave work but never mentally leave it.

I am writing this blog while enjoying a family cruise. During the trip, another physician texted my personal phone. I simply replied that I was away on vacation. She apologized and wished that I would have a wonderful trip. This is a great reminder that protecting your vacation is possible, and people usually respect your boundaries when you communicate with them.

A vacation is not really a vacation if you are still working. Many physicians believe they should always be available. The mental burden follows them: wondering about biopsy results, thinking about chemotherapy plans, checking the EMR, or responding to messages “just for a minute”. True rest requires complete mental detachment. You cannot fully recharge while carrying the burden of your practice everywhere you go.

The first step to having a real vacation is to prepare your mind before you leave. Give yourself permission to disconnect. This is often the hardest step. Many physicians feel guilty taking time off. I invite you to reframe the situation: if you were traveling halfway around the world in a completely different time zone (which I do every 1-2 years), would you answer a work call at 2:00 am? Your patients deserve a physician who is rested, not one who never disconnects. Rest is not selfish. Rest is part of practicing medicine well.

Step two is to make sure you have adequate coverage. Trust your colleagues. In most group practices, coverage is already built into the system. You take turns to cover one another. If you are a solo practitioner, build relationships with other physicians in your community. Create reciprocal coverage arrangements. You cover for them. They cover for you. Good coverage creates peace of mind.

The third step is to prepare your staff. Your team should know when you will be away, who is covering you, which issues should wait until you return, and which issues should go directly to the covering physician. Encourage your staff to communicate with the covering physician. Good preparation protects everyone, including you.

Step four is to communicate with the covering physician. Make the transition easy. Share with the covering doctor about patients needing close follow-up, expected test results, treatment plans already in progress, or anything that may require immediate attention. The smoother the handoff, the less likely you will receive unnecessary calls or “after-vacation mess”.

Step five is to communicate with the right patients. You do not need to notify every patient. Focus on patients who are awaiting important test results, who need treatment decisions, or who require timely follow-up while you are away. Let them know that you will be out of the office. Another physician will be covering you, and they will continue to receive excellent care. This reduces anxiety for both your patients and yourself. When I let my patients know that I will be away on vacation, and that a covering doctor will be available, they are usually happy for me, say that I deserve it, and wish me a joyful vacation.

Your vacation is an investment and not an indulgence. Time away allows you to recharge mentally, reconnect with family, return with greater focus and enjoy practicing medicine again. Burnout is not only about working long hours. It is also about never allowing your mind to recover.

Give yourself permission to truly rest. You became a physician to help people, not to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Your patients will still receive excellent care while you are away. Your colleagues can help. Your practice can function without you for a few days. You deserve uninterrupted time to enjoy your life.

If you are constantly working after clinic, taking work home every night, or even bringing work on vacation, it does not have to stay this way. My 1:1 Physician Coaching Program helps physicians create sustainable workflows, leave work on time, set healthy boundaries, and reclaim their evenings, weekends and vacations – without compromising excellent patient care. Imagine returning from your next vacation feeling truly rested instead of feeling like you never left work. I would love to help you make that your new normal.