Hello 17H10 club!

Welcome to this new newsletter format, in which we'll be analyzing various topics dealing with women's entrepreneurship, the world of work, everyday life, and of course, tailored looks. ❤️

For this July article, we've decided to look at disconnection and mental load on vacation.

Indeed, when we asked Amélie and Caroline, co-founders of 17H10, how their summer vacations had gone, we realized that much of their supposedly "off" time had been spent in online meetings, taking urgent calls, and answering emails that couldn't wait. And with small children on top of it all, it was no easy vacation! 

Whether you're a company director like Amélie and Caroline, an employee or a freelancer, a lot of unexpected things slip into your diary every day. So it's crucial to learn how to prioritize and delegate so as not to be constantly overwhelmed. But sometimes it's hard to let go.

As women, we also tend to take on more of the mental load, and want things done right, our way.

🤷🏼‍♀️: "What would happen if I took a week's vacation? What if I fell ill? Would my employees and collaborators know how to keep the company growing and running smoothly during my absence?"

When you're part of a company, you sometimes keep receiving emails and calls even when you're off duty. Sometimes we wait months for our vacations, then when the time comes, we still have the reflex of wanting to keep abreast of what's going on, and can't really manage to detach ourselves from work.

👩🏽‍💻: "Maybe I'll be better seen if I respond quickly to messages, maybe continuing to complete a few urgent files will prove my motivation."

In fact, a 2019 study* showed that 67% of French people (and 73% of women!) would continue to work on vacation while connected to their smartphone and laptop.

However, as you already know, taking a (real) break from work is good for our brains, productivity and creativity in the long run. In fact, as mentioned in the episode "What does it feel like to put your brain on pause?" of Louie Media's "Emotions" podcast, our brains need to detach themselves from work, noise and screens in order to regenerate effectively.

"If I were a doctor, I'd prescribe vacations to all patients who consider their work important. "Bertrand Russell

Although these tips may seem obvious, they are often not applied in reality, leading to an overflow of solicitations!

We've compiled a checklist for you to follow gradually and keep in mind before and during your vacation. 

Points to keep in mind 📝 :

• This time off will enable you to take stock and naturally step back from the situation, without constantly being in the rush of the present moment. You'll also realize what's going wrong in the organization, if ever there are processes to be improved or automated.
• The time you spend there will never come back, whether it's to rest deeply (not on the surface like when you're scrolling through the networks on your way home from work), to spend quality time with your family, or to explore new destinations. So it's vital to make the most of it, without distractions!
• Everything doesn't have to fall apart while we're away, as long as we're well prepared to delegate tasks.

Do it before you leave 📆:

• Plan vacations at the right time if applicable, e.g. at the same time as the customers who need the most attention, or when no one else crucial to the company's operation is on vacation.
• Make a point of completing as many tasks and files as possible a few weeks before you leave.
• Delegate all critical tasks to the right people, and build them a worklist with precise processes, as well as an FAQ containing all the answers to possible questions they might have (discuss this with them in advance if possible, to avoid questions while you're on vacation).
• Think about scheduling an automatic e-mail message so that outsiders who try to contact you don't panic after 24 hours without a reply from you! Or delegate the management of your mailbox if you can.
• Finally, don't forget to let everyone know you're leaving, so there are no surprises - yes, even those colleagues you don't see or contact much.

To be done during the vacations 🌊:

• Disconnect your phone's mail and messaging apps to avoid the temptation to reply/check notifications (yes, delete, then download again). Don't take your work computer with you!
• Take a break from habits and routines: signal to your body that you can eat at different times, go to bed later and get up later... to get out of the habitual rhythm embedded in our system. Getting up at 1pm and eating at 10pm? It's good for disconnection.
• If it's a problem of hyperactivity and we're simply not used to picking up on anything without stress, then why not bookend our diaries with activities that give us pleasure and relaxation while keeping us busy, like sports, art, or classes. This is the perfect time to pick up those online yoga classes or painting workshops you started a few years ago.
• Finally, leave room for improvisation and learn to delegate to your partner, friends or children during the vacations, to avoid another type of organizational mental load that will prevent you from detaching yourself from stress.

"Is there any vacation more profound than taking leave of oneself?" Amélie Nothomb

We hope these few points will help you get rid of your mental load on your next vacation and enjoy some well-deserved rest. 

Don't hesitate to contact us on Instagram for feedback on our articles, or recommendations of topics to tackle 🥰.

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* "Methodology: Survey conducted between June 26 and July 4, 2019 among 4.5 million candidates and over 135,000 recruiters on Qapa.fr (retailers, craftsmen, VSEs, SMEs, large companies). Of those surveyed, 52% are non-managers and 48% are managers. Profiles: 51% women and 49% men. The figures and statistics represent a snapshot of the employment situation in France. All information put forward by candidates is declarative" (https://www.studyrama.com/pro/efficacite-professionnelle/efficacites-professionnelles/gerer-son-stress/67-des-francais-ne-decrochent-pas-de-leur-travail-pendant-les-vacances-22062.html)