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I Will Not Stress About Work While I'm On Vacation This Year...

Yes, I know that summer is still a month or two away, but if you're like me, I am already planning my long-awaited (and much deserved if I don't say so myself) vacation. And I feel confident that I'm not alone given Spherion's survey findings that 67 percent of workers planned to take a vacation last summer.

When I think back to my vacation last year, I can't help but also remember the stress, anxiety and frankly, dread, that seemed to hang over my head as I thought about the work that was sure to pile up and await my return. This year, I'm not going to let that happen. Here's how...

I'm going to plan ahead by scheduling my time off well in advance. This will provide me ample time to prepare both at work and at home.

Then, I'm going to alert key contacts that I work with and rely on both within my company and outside clients. I'm hoping that by giving them ample notice of my vacation plans, we can tie up any loose ends or finish any important projects before I jump ship. There is nothing worse than leaving for vacation with an unfinished project waiting in the wings. I know myself, and I'll think about it while I'm away, and dread finishing it when I return.

Using my recruiting expertise, I think I'll recruit a back-up in my department who can handle any emergencies and/or maintain key aspects of my job while I'm away. Most importantly, I will designate this person to act as my contact person, giving them exact instructions as to how and when it is best to contact me (only for true emergencies).

Finally, I'm going to prepare for my return before I even leave by writing down a list of projects or priorities for when I get back to the office. I believe this will help me avoid feeling overwhelmed after my time off. This includes cleaning and organizing my office before I depart. 

With any luck this preparation will go a long way in making my retreat an enjoyable and stress-free one. Let me know if anyone out there has any other tips to help vacationing workers relax and refuel.