Four Things To Do Before Leaving For Vacation

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were able to spend a week on the beach in the Dominican Republic. It was a great vacation, but like any vacation, it took lot of planning and preparation — both at home and at work.

The world we live in as healthcare CIOs is hectic, to say the least. Because projects and timelines don’t wait on us while we plan time away from the office, preparation is key.

Here are some tips I’ve found to be useful:

1. Review any major projects going on with key leaders and make sure that any task is accomplished or delegated. The last thing you want is to have a precious week of time wasted because you forgot to get a contract signed.
2. Let your peers and key customers know who to go to in your absence. Often times this is probably already known within an organization, but why risk it? Checking in with your key customers will not only ensure they know the right people to go to, but also continue to strengthen your relationship with them.
3. Spend a few hours going through your email and try to leave with a clean slate. What you can accomplish before you leave will make your return a little bit easier.
4. Set up your ‘Out of Office’ message, and enjoy your time away. For me personally, I still check email at least once a day while on vacation and just skim for anything major. I don’t respond to emails unless it’s an absolute must; this helps me relax while I am away. Once vacation is over, I will spend an hour or two cleaning up the easy deletes so that the first day back is a little less hectic.

I’ve often found that what works for some doesn’t work for others, so it’s really finding out what best suits you. How you prepare for your vacation or time away can allow you to sit back and relax and recharge your batteries.