Who’s counting down the days until they go on vacation?
Sometimes you can’t help but feel like all you ever do is work, work, work… Needless to say, holidays can feel like the light at the end of a tunnel! Whether you’re going to spend quality time at home with the people you love or go on an amazing adventure to somewhere new, you’ve earned your time off, so you want to make it as relaxing as possible.
Part of enjoying your time away means wrapping up loose ends and dealing with dramas before you leave, so you don’t need to be disturbed while you’re away, or have to return to an absolute car crash. There’s nothing better than waking up on the first day of a vacation knowing everything work-wise is where it needs to be and you can just switch off – taker the break you deserve. To ensure this is the case, here’s what you have to do before you go!
1. Check in with clients
If you’re a recruiter, this includes candidates. Regardless of how many plates you are spinning at work, it’s so important to check in with your clients and business partners before you leave – even if they don’t require immediate attention. Let them know how long you’re away for and resolve any potential issues early. Don’t just leave them wondering where you’ve dropped off the face of the earth to without a care.
2. Have a plan of attack ready for your return
If you’re leaving for Christmas holidays, it’s important to make sure January doesn’t look completely bare. You want to hit the ground running upon your return to work – not sit down at a desk with an empty calendar and a million emails. Having an action plan to crack on with upon your return will save you time fumbling around trying to remember who you are and what you do, giving you a kickstart into the new year or quarter!
3. Remember to put your out of office on
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve forgotten this, I’d have about… $7. Put a nice message on there and let people know when to expect to be able to contact you again. You also need to have another point of contact they can be referred to in your absence. Even if you’re still responding to emails while you’re OOO, at least let people know to expect a delay.
4. Do a proper handover
Whether it’s another colleague or your boss, write out an easy to follow and thorough handover document. Don’t annoy your colleagues and have them waste their time playing the guessing game while you’re away. The more thorough you are, the higher the quality of coverage you’ll get from whoever is looking after your work.
5. Clean your desk
Before you go on vacation is a great time to clean out all those old files and papers you never use. Wipe down your keyboard (you’ll be surprised at how disgusting they get over the course of a few months) and empty your drawers of Tupperware and ink-less pens. When you return to work, you’ll feel fresh… not to mention, you won’t get a bad rep while you’re away for being a grot.
6. Update your admin
Go through your customer files and pipeline records etc. Make sure of all your administration is up to date and accurate. It will make your colleagues’ lives easier as they’ll be able to find what they need from your work quicker and easier, without having to phone you to ask questions they really shouldn’t have to. It’ll also make things easier upon your return to work, starting from a clean slate.
7. Don’t do things you regret at social drinks
Especially around Christmas time, there’s no shortage of social activities put on by your employer! Don’t go absolutely off the charts and do embarrassing things, that’ll make you leave the office feeling paranoid! No one wants to be ‘that’ person who gets talked about, let alone when you’re not there to defend yourself. don’t get too carried away with holiday excitement and stay professional.
8. Say thank you
Finally, remember to pay ‘thanks’ where it’s due. Simply showing your appreciation to people will make people want to help you more. Don’t take things for granted and remember to always be grateful.
Once you’ve done all these things, you’ll be closer than ever to sitting back, relaxing and rejuvenating! Happy vacation. You deserve it!
