Most people try to take the days between Christmas and the New Year off to recharge their batteries for the work ahead. However, even if they are out of the office, most managers on Christmas vacation end up handling business-related calls and e-mails. Have you ever been in this situation? Then you should try even harder this year to really relax and enjoy your Christmas without working. We have summarized some practical recommendations from the U.S. News website for you. These are the easiest steps to follow, but year after year we have not managed to follow them. Let's try to change that.
The first piece of advice is: Try to get as much work done as possible in advance so that you do not face impossible deadlines immediately after returning to work. It is also important to let as many people as possible know that you are taking a vacation. Send a message to your colleagues and important clients informing them that you will not be checking your e-mail during the last week or two before New Year's. However, do not send this message at the last minute. Send it at least two working days before you leave for vacation. At the same time, ask one person to be your deputy.
Turn off your e-mail and phone, please
Your deputy should be the only person to know where and how you will be spending Christmas. It should be someone who has already proved able to contact you only with important things. Everyone else should know that he or she is your deputy during your vacation. Then add an automatic out-of-office message in your e-mail and voicemail. Be really consistent and turn your e-mail and phone off. Stop forwarding your work-related e-mails to your private phone. Resist all temptations to check on what is happening at work. Take it as an opportunity to find out how your office can operate a week or two without you.
If you really cannot unplug completely, try to limit the time that you will be available as much as possible. Clearly inform your colleagues that you will check your e-mail and voicemail only once a day at a specified time and that you will only deal with really urgent messages. Carefully follow the time you have scheduled for work during your vacation.
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