Research shows that four-day vacations can be as restful and restorative as a longer get-away, but Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, founder and CEO of People Culture Data Consulting Group, advises leaders to assess their work responsibilities and how a short or long vacation will affect their stress levels before jetting off. Once you're away from the office, focus on enjoying the moment, doing challenging activities and giving yourself enough time to get back in a business frame of mind before you return, Cecchi-Dimeglio suggests.

Put it into practice: To decide on the length of your vacation, contemplate if short, frequent breaks refresh you more than longer stints away from the office and consider your workload and stress level to discern what length of time would leave you refreshed, Cecchi-Dimeglio recommends. "If recent projects have been particularly demanding, ensure your vacation allows ample time for relaxation and mental rejuvenation."

A recent trend of employees faking work by occasionally moving the mouse shows a deeper problem of a lack of employee engagement and purpose, writes leadership speaker Julie Winkle Giulioni, but leaders can improve engagement by deepening connections with employees and fostering respect. Winkle Guilioni also advises helping employees understand the purpose of their work, removing roadblocks and promoting development opportunities.

Put it into practice: Employees might need a little inspiration in their life, but leaders can fill that role. "Effective leadership practices play a powerful role in fostering a productive and motivating environment where employees are inspired and able to contribute their best efforts -- rather than fake productivity," Winkle Giuloni writes.

There are few things more annoying than unsolicited advice -- even from well-meaning coworkers who are trying to help, writes Melody Wilding, an executive coach. Wilding offers polite phrases to acknowledge the advice while setting boundaries, such as "I'm open to revisiting your suggestions in our next phase."

Put it into practice: Body language can help drive the message across by pairing non-verbal cues such as a raised hand with a polite refusal. "When others' input does become overbearing, you'll know how to stand up for yourself clearly, kindly and assertively," Wilding writes.

Some just-married couples are inviting their friends and families to join them on their honeymoon, a growing trend known as a "buddymoon" that enables travelers to get a bulk rate. Bleisure trips, a blend of business and leisure travel, also remain popular, along with "sportscations," which combine viewing of a major sporting event with other sightseeing excursions, and "sleepcations," where travelers can stay at a hotel that offers sleep monitoring, therapy and a chance to recharge.

When we hear the words, "Once upon a time ...," we mentally prepare for a tale from a distant time -- maybe even a magical place -- which is the power of the phrase, and experts say it originated around 1225 with similar phrases found in Finnish and Afrikaans. Not all fairy tales start that way, though, with children in Korea hearing "When tigers used to smoke" and those in Poland hearing "Beyond seven mountains, beyond seven forests."

Travel stresses me out. Therefore, I'm not much for planning vacations. My partner, however, loves to travel, so she's in charge of planning vacations, and I'm in charge of psyching myself up to go.

Once I get there, I enjoy myself, but the stress of thinking about it, much less planning it, means I probably don't take enough vacations. I prefer shorter periods away from work, most often within driving distance from home.

These are the kinds of factors Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio encourages leaders to consider when planning for time away. Do long vacations stress you more than short ones? Do you want to stay closer to home or go far afield? Are there pressing projects that need your attention, or can you find free time in your schedule?

Being deliberate about how you take time off and how you prepare yourself mentally to return can make a big difference in how rested and restored you'll feel when you do slide back behind the desk.

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