Make sure you've checked these to-do items before leaving for the holiday.

The 4 checkpoints

Ideally, preparations for the holiday should start even a few months before the D-day. In the context of?Common Leave, which is determined by the government usually a week or two before the D-day, you could still use the following tips and adjust them accordingly based on your own timeline:

• D-2 Months

1. Before you book your tickets or pay for accommodations, make sure that your absence won’t coincide with major meetings, conferences, or any other big events at work.
2. Double-check that you have enough Paid Time-Off (PTO) or vacation time to cover the trip you’re planning. See?here? for tips to ask for PTO.

• D-2 Weeks

1. Make a list of what you need to accomplish before you leave, and projects that need to be completed as soon as you get back from vacation.
2. Work ahead to make sure that everything on that list is wrapped up before your trip arrives, including working overtime if needed.
3. Delegate to a coworker to help carry your workload and take care of any critical projects that pop up while you’re away, if needed.

• D-1 Week

1. Discuss how connected you will be with with the team—ask your boss if they’d expect you to check emails or listen to voice messages while you’re gone.
2. Make sure you proactively set some boundaries. Communicate if you’ll only be able to check your phone and email occasionally.

• D-1

1. Be sure to let clients and?co-workers know in advance that you’ll be out of town, tell them when you plan to return.
2. Change the message on your phone and set the out-of-office (OOO) reminder on your work email.
3. One last time before you go, make sure you’ve completed this pre-vacation checklist.

Read more on the steps to prepare for a peaceful time-off in the Muse article?here .

Tips to check off all items

BRB Travel Blog has compiled a?printable ?thorough list of 12 things to do at work before going on vacation:

Some items on the list are easier to check off than others. Here are some tips you can implement to make sure every item is ticked off before you take off:

1. If there are any tasks or projects that can wait until you come back, keep them for yourself as to?not overload your colleagues.
2. In addition to the to-do-list you share to delegated co-workers, consider?writing a quick "how-to"?detailing all the steps.
3. Let clients know who will be the resource person during your absence. If they don’t know the person, you should?introduce them ASAP.
4. Automate your out-of-office (OOO) email and voicemail so that they go live?1 day before you leave and 1 day after?you come back.
5. Consider?leaving your passwords to one or two colleagues?in case they might have to access a document that you forgot to share.

Find the full 12-item checklist and print them if you prefer a physical list,?here .

Leaders’ way to signing out

When holiday time comes, some of the most concerned individuals in the workplace would be the leaders and higher-ups. Those responsible for the team’s growth and progress might see this period as a setback.

Learn from these leaders on how to take some real time-off so that it benefits you as a leader, and eventually the team.

Do It

Even during?Common Leave, some leaders might still choose to clock in to work. A word from Darrah Brustein, Network Under 40 / Finance Whiz Kids: “If your business can’t run without your presence for a week or two, then you have bigger issues at hand.”

Mirror Your Clients

As advised by?Phil Chen?of?Systems Watch , it’s a great opportunity to take time off when your clients take time off—like during Christmas, New Years, or Eid, because work typically slows for most businesses.

Share the Wealth

“Before you leave, make sure your employees know that you value their hard work. Encourage your team to strategically recharge, and make sure you’re providing the means for this.”?— Sam Saxton,?Salter Spiral Stair and Mylen Stairs

Do a Trial Run

For those with a bit more room to experiment, Phil Dumontet of?DASHED? suggested to test out a “mini” vacation. You’ll find out how well you delegated, who needed something from you and what came to a halt when you left.

Learn and gain more insights from even more leaders on what to do before taking a leave of absence, in the TIME article?here .

Are you ready to enjoy the holidays with your family, without work concerns glooming down your recreational activities?

With this week’s?Monday Mavens?edition, we hope you’ll get to have a peaceful holiday without neglecting your responsibilities at work.

We’ll see you again in the next edition with more insightful tips!

Cheers,

Monday Mavens Team