I’m about to embark on a ten day vacation to Turkey/Greece, and have never felt more disorganized! Normally, I am the queen of lists. I mark down every item I intend to pack, errands I need to run, and my necessary beauty appointments for my big trips. I typically purchase travel guides and even take the time research my destinations online. But, for whatever reason, I have not gotten my ducks in a row and now it’s crunch time!

While this lack of organization may keep me up at night panicking that I forgot to pack my passport, I can at least rest knowing that my work projects are moving and that everyone knows where things stand. This is not the first time I have left the office for a significant length of time, so I know just what it takes to get my teams and clients prepared for my absence.

Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you find yourself heading out for vacation. Whether it’s a two week honeymoon, a week-long adventure, or just a weekend trip, there are some basic steps you can take to put your mind (as well as your supervisors’ and teams’) at ease. Happy travels!

1. Assign a person (or persons) on your team to serve as the point of contact for any urgent matters and/or ongoing client initiatives that require immediate attention…empowering others is one of the best ways to keep the trains running
2. Notify your teams, management committees, and reception that you will be out at least a few days prior to your departure
3. Alert your clients that you will be unavailable and assure them that there will be appropriate team coverage while you’re out
4. Set up account team meetings to cover off on your assignments and discuss next steps
5. Set your out-of-office assistant on email and inform people the dates you will be unavailable
6. Don’t forget to change your voicemail too
7. And, finally, enjoy your time off… coming back refreshed and rejuvenated is what a vacation is all about!