The Day Before Vacation

It’s amazing how much energy people find the day before vacation. What they accomplish the last day of work is outstanding. It makes me wonder, if they only put a little extra effort every day, would they be as crazy the day before?

I’m never crazed the day before vacation. I know at the beginning of the week (or fi ve b usiness days before I leave) what I need and can possible accomplish before I leave. I make lists. I make a list of what HAS to be done before I leave. If I do not accomplish these tasks, someone will be impacted negatively. Those are what I concentrate my efforts in completing. These are priority number ONE.

Five days before I leave on vacation, I:

1. Make the list of priority items. Put them in what I think is the most important. Determine what has to be done in order for someone else to perform their work while I’m away.
2. Alert business users I’m currently working with about my schedule (what will get done and what may get done and what won’t). I verify the top ONE thing they need done by me or by the next person in line to work on something while I’m away. I always provide the name, telephone number, and email of the person to contact during my absense and who will be working on the task in my absense.
3. Alert anyone that is depending on me to get something done for them over the next two to three weeks (or one week after I return). I verify the top one thing they need and negotiate wnything that is in conflict with the business community.
4. Keep ALL phone calls and emails friendly but SHORT AND TO THE POINT. No on-going discussions. This is not the time to tell stories. It’s easy to politely say, “Hey, I’ve got a lot to get done so let me catch up with you when I return.”
5. Oh, I check emails maximum 4 times a day.

The day before I leave for vacation:

1. I TURN OFF IM!
2. I make a liust of what has to be done upon my return (drain my brain so I can enjoy the trip).
3. I write a quick status on wehre everything stands for coworkers, management, and the business community.
4. I talk to everyone that needs to get something done in my absence. Reminding them of the importance and encouraging them to complete (discussing the implications if they don’t).
5. I send one more email to all about who to contact in my absence.

It’s funny. I actually follow this process every week. I’m focused and organized on what has to get done. Maybe that is why the day before vacation is just like any other day. No feeling of rushed. When things do pop up (hey gremlins are always fed after midnight), I compare that to the priority list to see where it fits. Being organized and adaptable relieves the day before vacation stress.

OK, let me go and finish the other two priority things to gete done this morning. I’ll blog with you later.