8 Things You MUST Do Before You Go on Vacation

8 Things You MUST Do Before You Go on Vacation Whos counting down the days until they go on vacation? Sometimes you cant help but feel like all you ever do is work, work, work Needless to say, holidays can feel like the light at the end of a tunnel! Whether youre  going to spend quality time at home with the people you love or go on an amazing adventure to somewhere new, youve earned your time off, so you want to make it as relaxing as possible. Part of enjoying your time away means wrapping up loose ends and dealing with dramas before you leave, so you dont need to be disturbed while youre away, or have to return to an absolute car crash. Theres nothing better than waking up on the first day of a vacation  knowing everything work-wise is where it needs to be and you can just switch off taker the break you deserve. To ensure this is the case, heres  what you have to do before you go! 1. Check in with clients If youre a recruiter, this includes candidates.  Regardless of how many plates you are spinning at work, its so important to check in with your clients and business partners before you leave even if they dont require immediate attention. Let them know how long youre away for and resolve any potential issues early. Dont just leave them wondering where youve dropped off the face of the earth to without a care. 2. Have  a plan of attack ready for your return If youre leaving for Christmas holidays, its important to make sure January doesnt look completely bare. You want to hit the ground running upon your return to work not sit down at a desk with an empty calendar and a million emails. Having an action plan to crack on with upon your return will save you time fumbling around trying to remember who you are and what you do, giving you a kickstart into the new year or quarter! 3. Remember to put your out of office on If I had a dollar for every time Ive forgotten this, Id  have about $7. Put a nice message on there and let people know when to expect to be able to contact you again. You also need to have  another point of contact they can be referred to in your absence. Even if youre still responding to emails while youre OOO, at least let people know to expect a delay. 4. Do a proper handover Whether its another colleague or your boss, write out an easy to follow and thorough handover document. Dont annoy your colleagues and have them waste their time playing the guessing game while youre away. The more thorough you are, the higher the quality of coverage youll get from whoever is looking after your work. 5. Clean your desk Before you go on vacation  is a great time to clean out all those old files and papers you never use. Wipe down your keyboard (youll be surprised at how disgusting they get over the course of a few months) and empty your drawers of Tupperware and ink-less pens. When you return to work, youll feel fresh not to mention, you wont get a bad rep while youre away for being a grot. 6. Update your admin Go through your customer files and pipeline records etc. Make sure of all your administration is up to date and accurate. It will make your colleagues lives easier as theyll be able to find what they need from your work quicker and easier, without having to phone you to ask questions they really shouldnt have to. Itll also make things easier upon your return to work, starting from a clean slate. 7. Dont do things you regret at social drinks Especially around Christmas time, theres no shortage of social activities put on by your employer! Dont go absolutely off the charts and do embarrassing things, thatll make you leave the office feeling paranoid! No one wants to be that person who gets talked about, let alone when youre not there to defend yourself. dont get too carried away with holiday excitement and stay professional. 8.  Say thank you Finally, remember to pay thanks where its due. Simply showing your appreciation to people will make people want to help you more. Dont take things for granted and remember to always be grateful. Once youve done all these things, youll be closer than ever to sitting back, relaxing and rejuvenating! Happy vacation. You deserve it!