It’s almost towards the end of the year and yet you still have a lot of annual leave to clear and you are feeling exhausted, what’s better than taking a long break for yourself? It’s time for you to reward yourself for all those deadlines you have met, all those targets that you have hit and all those expectations that you have surpassed.
Before you go on a break, there are things to prepare for so that you can leave in peace. Well, you don’t want your boss frantically calling you every night about some file he can’t seem to find or some report he needs to have while you are half way around the world. Do your homework and you will never fear of disturbance while you are sunbathing in your bikini by the hotel’s pool with an ice cold beer.
1. Grab a coverer
Or you may call him or her the covering officer. The most important thing is to find a good coverer, someone who is experienced in your duties, responsible, initiative and trustworthy. Don’t have one? Go to your boss and insist he assign someone to you. Even the worst one is better than having none (just that you need to put in extra guard on not letting him mess up your work when you comes back).
2. Make a List
List down instructions and email to your coverer copied in your boss and anyone who is involved in your daily tasks. Make sure everyone including your clients know that You Are Away! And direct all those enquiries to the coverer or your boss.
3. OOO
Out Of Office email notification. Depending on what email server you are using, have it turned on by your IT guy or opt in auto forwarding to your coverer. Have it set one day after too. If you’re away from 1 October to 5 October, set it until 6 October. Make sure your colleague do a test email for you and he can see the auto response or your coverer can receive the auto forwarding one day before you leave for your break.
4. Be Clear
Make known specifically that you are away and not to be disturb even if the world crashes. You probably hear it on the news if the world crashes anyways. Put in your OOO email that you have limited or zero internet access on your devices. Make it clear to your boss you are not lugging your work laptop half way around the world. If he insist, let him know you will not cover any losses and damage to the laptop (usually it works and he’ll not allow you to bring your laptop out). Don’t leave an emergency number with your coverer or your OOO notification. There is no emergency your boss can’t handle. He is paid to be your boss, remember that. And like I said, if the world crashes, there is nothing you can do anyways.
5. Unfollow
Do make sure any tasks that you are following up on, complete them or hand over to your coverer or unfollow them by letting the key person in charge of that task know that you are away. You can pick up where you left off after you are back.
6. Set aside a time each day
I know it’s hard to ignore those messages and emails that kept popping up on your mobile phone when you are on a holiday. If you have done the above steps correctly, you can be assured that whatever is sent to you is probably being taken care of by your coverer or your boss. However, what you can do is to set aside each day, let’s say at night for an hour, just to go through your messages and emails BUT the only action you will do is to highlight those you want to follow up when you are back to work and trash those unimportant ones. I usually will marked those I want to follow up as ‘Unread’ and ‘read’ those whom I felt its tangible to give it a miss. Don’t start acting on the emails, you’ll make your coverer confused what emails you’ve answered and what emails he needs to follow up on. Plus if you are answering most of your emails then the above steps taken are redundant and you are setting a bad precedent that you can work while you are on a holiday (we don’t want our bosses to abuse that, do we?). So just read and highlight, nothing else.
7. Do yourself a favor
Focus your time and attention towards fully enjoying your break. If you are with your loved ones, give them your all just like you would towards your job. Go all out and have a full vacation and not “daddy is always missing” vacation.
8. Leave a day for yourself
When you’re back to work, don’t just dive into work. Eased yourself into it otherwise waves of guilt and stress will be coming back removing all the goodness a vacation have brought you. One secret tip? If I am coming back on a Monday, I make sure I am schedule free, meaning that I will do what I can to push back meetings to Tuesday and Wednesday and make that day all about catching up with my coverer (make sure you get that dude a gift even if it’s a souvenir magnet) and my boss (yes, while you are at it, give him a souvenir gift too) – people like to think you thought of them when you’re away on a holiday. Use that day to clear and reply all your emails. Unless to say “Hi, I’ve missed you around.”, no one should try to engage you. You’ll have plenty of time to get back to your regular rhythm the next day. Today is just about getting your momentum back.
Follow the above steps and you’ll never have your boss disturbing you on your well deserved rest.
Got more secret tips to share? Come and share it with us below!
MiddleMe 
Great tips to follow I do not think I can top that!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you!! Glad that you can use those tips 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you advise, you advise! Great tips.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks ya!!
LikeLike
And in your break be sure to read some Mangas! https://iamjishnu.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/discovering-mangas/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, I will!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kally that reminds me of your expertise in the management field. Thanks and continue
LikeLiked by 2 people
I will, thanks Vava for dropping by. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I will be touching Malaysia on my way to Sydney next month. May be feeling the freshness of air on your 😀blogs
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love your tips kally
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you!! Glad you find them useful.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed reading this post. This is an excellent practice that is completely absent in many countries in the world and it will be good for many people to read this. Thanks for sharing Kally.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re most welcome, Ngobesing! I’m glad you enjoy it.
LikeLike
Yes, I did Kally. Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on SUCCESS INSPIRER and commented:
What do you do to make sure that work in your office runs smoothly when you are on vacation? To the best of my knowledge, in my country, most people shut their doors when they are on leave and everything halts until they are back. That is not the right thing to do. Kally whose expertise on management issues is changing many things around her and beyond has some very sound advice on this. Please, read it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great post as usual. You have some good common sense ideas.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks a lot!! Great to have you here at MiddleMe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It’s great to be here. I love reading your posts very much! 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of preparation. I have been lucky to not need to do that much.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks great for you.. Every time I go on leave, there’s seems to be endless stuff to prep for..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes I have a lot to say 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
these tips are of great help !!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks a lot! Glad the tips helped you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t taken any leave since long time now =(
but when i’m on leave i certainly follow your advice no.4 “be clear” i will say over and over loudly until they get the message =)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha.. Put up a sign on your computer screen will do the trick as well! Time to take a break, my friend, for your own good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True I should go on vacation soon, I feel so exhausted from work
You know what some people just don’t get the message; I love it when they keep calling but i never reply to their phone calls when I’m on vacation
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should take a break soon. It’ll do you harm and not good for the company too if you push yourself harder than your limit.
LikeLike
This is a great checklist! I will be going out of town so you gave me some wonderful reminders:)
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re most welcome. 🙂 enjoy your break!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice tips,,, Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hoped the tips is helpful to you the next time before you go on a trip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Kally… Happy blogging 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on BushGod's Blog and commented:
Here is 8 steps you can take to enjoy that much need vacation away from work without that nagging worry that something will go wrong while your away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you my friend for sharing this with your readers!! Appreciate greatly!
LikeLike
Well little lady this is sound advice for all the masses you should be proud to call this your own. Smiles and lots of luck your friend Frank
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks A lot! I will continue to write hard and produce inspiring articles!
LikeLike
Great tips
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Glad you find the tips useful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kally ciao
💚
/
by Rinaldo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!! Happy that you drop by, friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will great stuff hun.
LikeLiked by 1 person