Work Checklist For a Stress Free Vacation

Yes, summer is just around the corner. Have you planned your vacation yet? Use this checklist below to make sure you've covered everything before you take time off. The longer you plan to be away from the office the earlier you should start looking at this checklist.

Do Well In Advance:

1. Decide Who Will Do Your Work While You're Gone
This will require defining your job responsibilities and delegating them out. It could potentially mean hiring someone to fill-in for you during your absence. Don't underestimate the importance of this step. If it is properly done then everything else will be easier. For detailed instructions on this step, read our Blog Article: "Who Will Do The Work While You're Gone?"

2. Notify Your Boss and HR Department
Once you have assurance that you can either put your work on hold, delegate your duties, or hire someone for the time you are away, then confirm your vacation schedule with your boss. Don't forget to also inform the HR Department of your vacation time taken.

3. Finish up Important Projects Ahead of Time
To ensure your vacation can be stress free, move up your deadlines on important projects. That way you will have a buffer for unforeseen events. The last thing you want to do is have a late night fixing an emergency on a critical project the day before your vacation.

4. List Activities You Have Decided to Put on Hold
Let's hope you are lucky enough to be able to put a portion of your responsibilities or projects on hold. List them out somewhere so you will see them first thing when you return to work. This will help you jog your memory after being in "non-work mode" for a couple of weeks.

5. Decide What You Are Willing and Able to Do While on Vacation
Be realistic and set limits for yourself and your company. Perhaps you are willing to be on call for emergencies only... then better define what an "emergency" is.

6. Train or Provide Instructions for Assistants and/or Co-workers.
One of the most important reasons for starting this checklist a few weeks before your vacation is so you have ample time to train and provide instructions to those whom you will delegate your work.

7. Tell Clients and Stakeholders What To Expect
Another thing to do well in advance is to tell your clients, partners, and other stakeholders being affected by your leave what they can expect while you are gone: who will handle their issues, will you reply to email, etc.

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