When you have an upcoming vacation, you start daydreaming about the ways you’ll fill your freetime: sleeping in, reading a good book, family gatherings, binging that new show on Netflix…
However, the reality of taking a vacation from your job means that you may need to work ahead to keep things going while you’re out.
If you want to make sure you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your vacation, follow these tips for working ahead to take a great vacation.
Schedule Ahead What Can Be Scheduled
If you’re used to working in the moment, you probably aren’t taking advantage of some of the ways you can schedule things ahead of time. Things to consider scheduling out in advance include:
- Retriever slide publishing & unpublishing
- Email autoresponder
- Social media posts
- E-blasts
- Emails (if your email client has that feature)
- Blog posts
- Thermostat heat/cool settings
- Holiday light on/off settings
Make a Checklist
Preparing for time off can be very stressful, so it often requires a workflow beyond the regular project management. Make a checklist for those things that must be done before you go on vacation a couple of weeks out and work your way through it a little at a time.
Set & Communicate Rules for Engagement
When you’re out of the office, you determine how available or unavailable you’d like to be. If you want to go off the grid, communicate that with your colleagues and clients, and set up an alternative point of contact while you’re out of the office. This also includes turning off notifications on your smart phone for email and Slack, so you can truly be present on your vacation.
Clean Your Office
If you want to avoid any holiday pests or nasty smells when you return, take some time to clean your office before you go. Take out the trash, remove any candy or food from your office, and take home or throw out anything in the office fridge that won’t be so appetizing upon your return.
Plan for Your Return
Re-entry after a nice vacation can be one of the hardest things about taking a vacation, so take care of future you and work ahead a little bit so that when you return, you won’t be overwhelmed by a daunting workload. This might include making a checklist for first day back priorities, scheduling ahead a few extra things, blocking out some meeting-free hours on your first day back, or cleaning out your email inbox before you depart.
Enjoy your time off! When you get back, we’d love to help make your work life even better by incorporating optimal communication strategies into your workflow. Click here to schedule a free consult with a communication expert.