Capture Real-World Career Insight & Advice That Will Prep You for The Big Time

How to Take a Stress-Free Holiday Break

Q:   Dear Seymour, as I prepare to take time off for the holidays, I can't help but get anxious thinking about the piles of work that will await me when I return to the office. Do you have any advice to make leaving less stressful?

- Submitted by June Girst, Franklin, KY

A: Dear June,

Yes, its holiday season, a time when many workers exit the office to take a vacation or spend time with family. But along with flutters of excitement, many workers get stressed thinking about leaving projects behind or the pile of work sure to await their return. Here are five tips to take the worry out of leaving:

• Plan Ahead.
The best scenario is to schedule your holiday time off well in advance. This will provide you ample time to prepare both at work and at home.

• Prepare colleagues and coworkers.
Alert key contacts both within your organization and any outside clients you may work with on a regular basis. Make sure to give them ample notice of your vacation plans so they may tie up any loose ends or finish any important projects before you jump ship. Also, set up out-of-office alerts and change your voicemail to reflect your absence.

• Recruit a back-up.
If possible, designate someone in your department to be your backup while you are away for any emergencies or to maintain key aspects of your job. You should also ask this person to act as your contact person, giving them exact instructions as to how and when it is best to contact you (ideally, only for true emergencies). You might consider including your back-up's contact information on your voicemail and email messages.

• Complete unfinished projects.
There is nothing worse than leaving for holiday break with an unfinished project waiting in the wings. Chances are you'll think about it while you are away, and dread finishing it when you return. If you have projects or initiatives that are near completion and could be finished prior to your time off - then do it.

• Prepare for your return before you even leave.
Write down a list of projects or priorities for when you get back to the office. This will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed after your time off. Clean and organize your office - you don't want to arrive back to a cluttered office.

Taking time to prepare for your holiday break and your return to the office can go a long way in making your retreat an enjoyable one. And it should go without saying but we'll say it anyway - don't regularly check your email or call into the office unless you absolutely have to. Instead, relax and refuel.