The ultimate pre-vacation checklist

The ultimate pre-vacation checklistThe ultimate pre-vacation checklistAs the President of the United States heads out on his vacation, youre probably thinking about yours too. Whether its a beach or an incredible new city to explore, youre picturing all the relaxation youll do an all the email youll ignore. But before you walk out the door, there are a few critical things you need to do so you can actually enjoy your vacation while also not stressing out when you get back to the geschftszimmer.Here are six steps to take before you head out for that perfect vacation.Delegate work to othersIts tempting to fall into the work-martyr dream of letting your colleagues see what its like to function without you. But if you are even the least bit useful in your job, it will create utter chaos if no one at all does the tasks you usually do. Things will get backed up, people will get stressed, and theyll get mad at you for taking a vacation when they need you. They may also track you down wherev er you are and force you to do that work anyway. So if you dont want to handle a last-minute client project while youre trying to soak up the rays, its crucial to be practical and delegate work to your various kollektiv members before you go anywhere.In the days leading up to your vacation, meet with your co-workers and clearly explain any responsibilities youll need them to take on while youre away and how their own roles may be affected by your absence. Hand over any information thats necessary to get those tasks done (for instance, account login information), and dont forget to factor in the day or two itll take you to get back into the swing of things when you return and may need extra help.Set up a detailed email autoresponder and/or voicemailWhile you can always add a little personality into your email autoresponder (Im away on a tropical beach somewhere), the best autoresponders include the following information How long youll be gone. When the person emailing you can expect a reply or actionThe name and contact information of the person on your team who can be contacted if its an urgent matterIf youre completely out of ideas, here is the perfect out-of-office email response, from one of the most brilliant executives we know.If you have your own phone line at your office and are going to be gone for a significant amount of time, remember to also record a new voicemail message.Clean up and organize your office spaceWhile we want to just up and leave everything to embrace the relief of vacation, tischset aside 30 minutes to organize your desk a little.Coming back to a clear desk and an empty trash can is a beautiful thing and will significantly reduce your , so take the extra five minutes before you go to file away any papers, throw away takeout containers and wipe down your desk and computer.Another pro tip If theres any important information your team may need access to while youre away (like client contracts or account passwords, for example), leave ou t a sticky note with that info to avoid a frantic Whats the login for our Twitter account?? email.Set clear expectations and boundariesHow much time will it take you to respond to any urgent work emails? Is there a specific time of day when you may be online to chat for a bit? Is it okay for colleagues to go into your filing cabinet while youre away to look for something? These are the types of questions you need to answer for your team before you pack up and leave.And while expectations are important, its also critical to set boundaries pre-vacation. If youre going to unplug during your entire vacation or will only respond to emails at specific times, let your team know.Plan for work emergenciesIf your team has no other choice but to go for the nuclear option when youre not there, what should they do? Give specific and action-oriented instructions for what to do in the event of a major problem.Most importantly, set very clear expectations of what constitutes an emergency, and keep the list of emergencies short. You dont want colleagues calling you panicked over an arbitrary Excel typo.Look ahead before you leaveWere all guilty of getting so caught up in the pre-vacation fervor that we forget that we eventually have to come back from vacation at some point. If you dont want to be crying at your desk upon arrival, address your post-vacay to-do list before you head out.Check your calendar for any important deadlines that come up right after you come back to work. Is there anything you can do in advance to ease your workload in the future? Are there deliverables that need to be taken care of while youre away?If you want to make your vacation a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience, take the extra time at work to get your ducks in a row. Your future self will thank you.