The smell of spring is in the air and I’m sure I can speak for everyone when I say that it has been a long winter! With spring, the sun shines brighter, the days are longer and our minds quickly wander off to the magical land of vacation time.
There is nothing more precious to me than spending every free moment at our summer cottage on Manitoulin Island, making memories with family and friends.
1. Early bird gets the worm
When you submit your time off request well in advance, your HR department will appreciate the advance notice and should have no issues signing off on your request. Once you submit your time-off request, others in the office will likely be inspired to do so as well and your HR department will be grateful that they have plenty of time to approve everyone’s requests.
2. Plan ahead
Knowing in advance when your holidays are and staying on track with productivity will ensure that you aren’t racing to meet deadlines before you leave, and will keep you from rushing only to submit less-than-quality work.
3. Let others know you will be away
Avoid a major backlog of work when you return from holidays by setting up your email with an auto response notifying clients that you are away along with an alternative contact or have your emails forwarded to a colleague who can manage your emails while you’re away.
4. Don’t take off too much time all at once
Returning to work after your time off shouldn’t leave you needed another week off! The more time you take off all at once, the more work will accumulate in your absence. Avoid returning to work to a mountain of work and an unmanageable inbox by taking less time off all at once.
For example, I’ve planned my summer holidays as long weekends! Taking a Friday and/or a Monday off allows me a long enough break to rest and relax while spending time at camp with my family, but isn’t so long that I feel overwhelmed when I return to work.
5. Take it, you deserve it!
Your employers should be encouraging you to take your much deserved personal days, lieu days and vacation days. This is time for you. Time to turn it off and do something for yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, it will definitely affect you later down the road.
Have a great holiday!
