Picture this. Your out of office auto-responder is on. Your laptop is closed. You’re ready to step into your PTO completely present, and the only thing on your to-do list is to enjoy the holidays. Sounds like a dream, right?
But then, the nightmare begins. A client has an emergency, a coworker has an urgent question, and your phone vibrates with a Slack message. Suddenly, you realize you didn’t finish that one thing on your list. You close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Out comes your laptop as your dreams of peaceful PTO vanish into thin air.
Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be your reality. To truly unplug during the holidays without feeling overwhelmed, it just takes a little preparation. The best time to start preparing is a few weeks before you plan to put up your out-of-office message and disconnect. Then, follow this checklist.