In the process of preparing to leave for my summer vacation, I was ticking down my “to do” list and realized we needed to have an updated blog post.  So once again, real life becomes my inspiration.  Here are some tips for getting prepared at the office so you can fully disconnect, unwind and relax on your vacation:

Make your “to do” list

Make a running list of what needs to be accomplished before you leave and make it a priority to check things off.  Ask your co-workers, manager and clients what they need from you before you leave.  A nicely checked-off list will give you the reassurance that all is well for your departure.

Look and plan ahead

Look at your schedule for the week or even two weeks after you get back.  Do you have big meetings coming up?  Do you have travel plans that need to be made?  Do you have a deliverable due?  Add all of that to your “to do” list and do as much advance preparation as possible.  That way it won’t be looming over your head while you are gone.

Have a back-up

If there are things that will need attention while you are gone, bring a co-worker or your manager up to speed on where everything stands and what they might need to do in your absence.  Make sure your contacts know who your back up is and that all parties have each other’s contact information.

Let contacts know and set expectations

Give your clients and other business partners as much notice as possible about your time away from the office.  That way they can plan as well.  Decide in advance if you will be checking in with the office periodically during your absence, either via phone, checking voicemail or e-mail.  Ideally, you can completely shut down and enjoy a work-free vacation, but that’s not always possible.  Either way, set those expectations. Your voicemail should have a message indicating you will be out of the office for an extended period, include whether or not your will be checking messages and who your back-up is while you are gone.  Your e-mail should be set up with an automated, out-of-office reply with the same information.

Clear your desk

You may be one of those people who always have a neat orderly desk.  If so, you can skip this one.  But if you’re like me and papers tend to cover your desk, add clearing your desk to your "to do" list.  That way, when you come back from a nice, relaxing vacation you can at least ease into your re-entry at work with a neat desk.

Enjoy and don’t apologize

You have earned this vacation!  Take it, enjoy it and don’t apologize for taking the time off.  You will come back refreshed, re-energized and more productive than when you left.  It’s a win-win for everyone!

And with that, I can check off one more thing on my list and am one step closer to enjoying my time off.

Libby Kelly

@libbyakelly on Twitter

Growing up, did you ever hear the phrase “try it, you might like it?”  Chances are you did and as it turns out, there’s a lot of truth in that statement.  Take note that it’s not “try it, you will like it.” It’s you “might” like it.  But the key point here is that you have to try it to know.  In our family, we call this “going to the end of the dock.” Let me provide an overly simplified real-life example.  I had always said I didn’t like brussel sprouts.  But the truth was, I’d never actually tried one.  I just assumed I didn’t.  Let’s face it – in the vegetable world, brussel sprouts have gotten a pretty bad rap.  But I was at a friend’s house for dinner recently and she made roasted brussel spouts.  So as to not be a rude guest, I stepped out of my vegetable comfort zone, went to the end of the dock and tried one.   And low and behold, I loved those little baby cabbages!  Now, much to my husband’s delight, they make a regular appearance on our dinner table. Turns out he has always liked them, but was being deprived due to my assumed dislike. 

So what’s my point?  Try something new!  Test the waters of the unknown at the end of the dock!  Been thinking about trying a new exercise class?  Do it.  Want to learn a new skill set for your job?  Take a class.  Want to meet new people?  Sign up with a networking group.  Want to give back to the community?  Volunteer.   Without fail, the rewards will outweigh the risk of putting yourself out there and you may even surprise yourself with what you can accomplish. 

At the end of the day, you may not like or be good at everything you try, but you will have broadened your horizons and learned more about yourself in the process.  But you also may end up finding something new and wonderful and will wonder where it’s been all your life and why you didn’t try it sooner.  You may even make someone else happy in the process…   

“What’s Your Major?”

It’s a perennial question for college students to ask each other, and a frequent question asked of students by family, friends and prospective employers.  At college career fairs, I use the question as an ice breaker to encourage the often nervous student to talk about him/herself.  Unfortunately, but realistically, the question also serves as a screening device to identify people whose major would not appeal to the clients whom I serve.

In today’s world, with new graduates taking many months to find their first “real” job, and with over 40% of recent college graduates working in jobs that don’t require degrees, the question “What’s your major?” has taken on increased importance.  Some students will go to college knowing exactly what they want to do – but most don’t.  Most have to make that decision while in college, often having to choose from a list of 250 or more majors. 

As you go through this daunting task, I can only give you some old advice and maybe some that you haven’t heard.  The old stuff involves math, science, and technology – if there is any way that you can be passionate about any of these three subjects, you will absolutely maximize your future employability.  Looking at the top 10 most needed jobs for many years, the healthcare and technology industries dominate the list, and of course, these industries rely heavily on the three subjects cited.

But looking back on my own six years in college, where I dropped out of pre-med and never liked math much, there were some electives I took that have furthered my business career.  I took two Logic courses, where I learned how to think logically and reach sound decisions based on evidence, rather than on emotion.  And I took Writing courses to enable me to set my logical thinking down on paper and convince others of my positions and decisions.  The hardest elective I ever took was Library Science, but it taught me how to do credible research and find reliable information.   

Later, I formed the belief that the two most valuable skills that I learned in college were writing and logical thinking, and I haven’t changed my mind.  If you learn to think and write logically, you will also be able to speak in the same manner, giving you convincing verbal skills. 

One last suggestion: I continue to thank my Mother for forcing me to take Typing in high school- keyboards are best handled with ten digits, not two! 

Good luck to you in your own careers. 

Doug Hart, Incepture, Tampa