The Art of the PTO Comeback: No Apologies Needed! A Have A Seat Minicast

Debra Coleman [00:00:11]:
Well, hello there, beautiful. And welcome back to another mini cast episode of Have A Seat, Conversations with Women in the Workplace podcast. I am your host, Deb Coleman. And I am flying solo this week on a minicast, chatting about something we all know too well, coming back to the office after some well deserved PTO time. Oh, my gosh. What a great topic. Listen, I cannot and being that as of this recording, I'm recording in what is known as summer in the United States or in the Northern Hemisphere. I know not everybody listening is experiencing quote their summer months right now.

Debra Coleman [00:00:51]:
But maybe still for you, even if you're not experiencing summer months, you are ready to take some much deserved PTO. You know, we are midyear. Regardless of where you dwell. It is the middle of 2024. And so, yeah, thoughts of PTO time might be filtering into your into your psyche there. Like, you know, it's midway through the year, end of fiscal for many of us. It's the start of a new fiscal for many of us. So now is the perfect time to just say, deuces.

Debra Coleman [00:01:18]:
I'm out for a while. I need to mentally and physically reset, friends, so I'm stepping away. So that's what we're gonna be talking about today. Returning, actually, back to the office after taking some PTO time. Now I have to give credit where credit is due. The topic of this conversation came to me from Joan Berg. Some of you may or may not know her. She is a very valuable and active EAAA coach and trainer.

Debra Coleman [00:01:46]:
And when I say AA, I mean administrative assistant and EA executive assistant. She is in that space. She is a coach and trainer that has been around for a minute. And to be honest with you, I followed Joan when I was on the come up. In my early twenties when I converted into this role into being administrative support professional, and I started out as many do as a receptionist, That's when I started to follow Joan. I subscribed to her newsletters. I attended all her webinars. She was invaluable in my career growth and still is in many respects.

Debra Coleman [00:02:19]:
So, I still subscribe to her newsletters and in a recent newsletter she sent out, she discussed this. The art of returning back to office after PTO. And I thought what an innovative topic that is really something that I don't believe is discussed a whole lot. And so in my typical fashion of these mini cast as I like to say, I take a break from having an interview with my fabulous guest to talk about and to dish with you on certain subjects that kind of filter across my peripheral or or come across my email inbox and this is a perfect example of that. This came And as Joan did in her newsletter because that is just the type of human being she is. But I, of course, will put my own little spin and in a sassy and down to earth and hopefully relatable manner, I think that you've all come accustomed to. So what I would like to discuss are basically just some tips and tricks I wanna just add to Joan's conversation. I don't wanna correct or or, like, pile on anything that she already stated in her newsletter.

Debra Coleman [00:03:33]:
I just this is my attempt at continuing the conversation as I as I always say. So with that being said, if you're ready to get down to the brass tactics of what it can of just dishing about what it means to come back after some submit taking some significant time off, then let's dish. So get poolside, get beachside, get under the umbrella, or under your favorite tree side, and let's just dish a minute between, colleagues here and talk about some best practices that we can do or maybe that, you know, we haven't thought about when we return from some time off. So with that being said, let's get into it. Okay. So let's be real first. Returning to work after a vacation can feel like jumping into a cold pool. You know, we all we've all been there.

Debra Coleman [00:04:25]:
Right? It's like the day before you're due back into the office. This is whether you're virtual or in office or hybrid. Right? Everybody kinda goes through this little mini panic attack of, oh, you know, what am I what am I gonna be facing? What is my inbox gonna look like? What kind of, like, my teams, you know, if that's if that's your method of communication or maybe it's Slack, you know, whatever that is for you, your virtual communication tool. What sort of, like, missed messages notice are you gonna get? Right? I mean, it's just like that night before. Oh my lord Jesus. Take the wheel. Help me get through this. So it can be a little a little stressful.

Debra Coleman [00:05:04]:
So but don't worry. I would love to share with you some tips and tricks to help possibly ease you back in without feeling overwhelmed. We'll dish about the importance of taking it slow, tackling tasks 1 at a time, and why you should never ever this is number 1 tip. Okay. Drumroll. You should never apologize for taking time off. We'll definitely get into that. You know, I'm I've gotta I've gotta drop the sassy on that 1 for sure.

Debra Coleman [00:05:34]:
So, plus I'd love to share some best ways to communicate your out of office dates with your colleagues or your boss and some extra tips to make your transition smoother, your transition back from PTO smoother. So once again, grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and let's dive into how to return from PTO like a pro. Okay. So tip number 1, communicate your intent to be out without a question mark if you can. Okay. So we all have to go probably go through some form of approval. Right? Like, hey. You know, some sort of notification or some sort of approval.

Debra Coleman [00:06:13]:
Once that is done, right, and and you've gotten the stamp of approval from those powers that be, then communicate your intent to be out with your colleagues, whether it's in writing or whether it's, like, water cooler in the hallway talk or whether it's, like, in a staff meeting. When you communicate that you will be out of office, watch your tone. Watch your up speak. Don't communicate that with a question mark. It's good practice to communicate those dates firm. For example, in a staff meeting, hey, y'all. Just a heads up. I will be out of office June 1st through 10th.

Debra Coleman [00:06:51]:
So if you need to blank, blank, blank, blank, blank. If you can get all that to me before I leave, that'd be great. Or by this date, that'd be great. Or, like like, whatever it is. Right? I'm you know me. When I offer suggestions, please know, I always put the disclaimer out there. Use your words in your communication style because, obviously, right, we all have our own personality and our own and our own office culture. So definitely, you know, take this with a grain of salt.

Debra Coleman [00:07:19]:
I'm I'm I'm giving you a skeleton. You basically fill it in. I'm never I am not that type of podcaster who, like, wags a finger in your face and says, you must do this. No. It's honestly coming from a place of just offering my 2¢. That's really all this is. So my 2¢ here is when you communicate your intent to be out, do so with finality. Don't do so with a question mark.

Debra Coleman [00:07:43]:
Meaning, so I'll be out June 1st to 10th. So if you could get the all your travel expenses into me by May 30th, that would be great. No. I will be out of the office June 1st through 10th, so I'm going to need all the travel expenses processed and give them to me by May 30th. Thanks. End of story. Done. We don't want any ambiguity.

Debra Coleman [00:08:03]:
We don't want any pushback. Finalized. I'm out. This is what I need by this date before I leave. End of story. Okay? So communicate your intent to be out without a question mark. Communicate your intent to be out with some firmness and a period at the end. Okay.

Debra Coleman [00:08:20]:
And these are all things that I have done, actually. So I am not telling you or sharing with you anything that I have not done myself, and I have lived through the mistakes. So this is actually coming to you from my lived experience when I communicate my PTO time as I have, like, oh, these over 20 years being in the working world. Right? So tip number 1, communicate your intent to be out with a period on the end, not with a question mark, because we don't want people to to, you know, railroad us or or, like, you know, not adhere to the dates we're gonna be out and to ping us anyway or we want boundaries. So in order to do that, we need to be firm. Okay. 2nd tip, be clear on your departing on your on your leaving and returning to office dates. Sorry.

Debra Coleman [00:09:08]:
I'm thinking like flights. Like, be clear on your departure and arrival dates. I am yours I am your flight attendant, Deborah Coleman. So, no, be clear on your, you know, out when I leave and come back. Like, be very clear on that. When are you out? Well, I'm thinking of being out the first, but I could be back on 9th. I don't know. I I guess maybe the Mm-mm.

Debra Coleman [00:09:30]:
No. I am out June 1st through 10th. Firm. Done. I've already requested it. It's been approved. It's solid. It's rock hard.

Debra Coleman [00:09:39]:
It's done. End of story. And second to that though is let me just let me just add my little, like, asterisk to that tip being clear on your, like, leaving and return to office dates. If you can at all, try to extend those dates out by a day. As example, I will be out June 1st to 10th. So those are your actual vacation dates. Like, the plane tickets have been bought, your cruise tickets have been bought, you know, whatever it is. Your road trip's been mapped out, Or maybe it's a staycation and you're like, I'm just out.

Debra Coleman [00:10:14]:
I'm just gonna sit on my couch for 5 days. Don't bother me. Whatever it is for you, if you can, I highly advise, and I've said this to friends and I've done it myself, add a day before and the day after your actual vacation dates to your request? So, for example, if you will be out June 1st through 10th, then your vacation request should actually be for May 31st through June 11th. Give yourself the day before and the day after if you can. If you have it in your PTO bank, if you're you know, if whatever's going on at the office will you know, if you feel comfortable being out that you know, putting those dates in, of course, it's a case by case basis. But just general advice because the day before you leave for vacation, especially if it involves plane tickets, train tickets, cruise tickets, like, any sort of any form of travel, you will, like, kiss your future self for asking for that d before off, especially if it involves others. If you have family members you're traveling with, friends you're traveling with, especially if you have kiddos involved, right, or older parents coming with you. Like, there is so much going on the day before you're due to actually be out and leave.

Debra Coleman [00:11:28]:
So if at all possible, include the day before you will thank yourself. Trust me. Nothing at work is more important than the day before you travel. I have done it, and I've actually been working alongside colleagues who have not, like, who have not done this and who work the day before they're due to leave. And my heart bleeds because they are just torn in 5, 000 different directions. They've getting phone calls left and right from friends and family. They're on their lunch hour. They're running to Target and Walmart and Dollar Tree trying to get all the things.

Debra Coleman [00:11:58]:
They're, like, trying to get, like, passports in order. They're trying to confirm airline tickets. They're talking with travel agents. They're da da da. It's madness. And and they're at work. So they're trying to, like, do all this while they're at work, and it's just it's just horrifying. I've actually reached it.

Debra Coleman [00:12:14]:
When I when I see a colleague going through this, I've actually done this in the past. I've I'd come up to them and I say, listen. You've got so much going on. What can I do to help? Not with the trip, of course, but is there anything I could take off your plate now to help? Just start punting things to me because it looks like you could really use some time, like an extra time on your lunch hour. Or if you wanna get out of here early, I'm happy to help. What can I do? Right? So and sidebar to that, if you see a colleague kinda going through that and you know they're due to leave the next day, don't be afraid to reach out if you have the bandwidth to do that. Right? If you have the space and grace to do that, they will totally appreciate that you're even reaching out. They may not take you up on it, but at least the fact that you'd noticed that you recognize there's somebody else, quote, in the room that could maybe use some help.

Debra Coleman [00:12:59]:
The fact that you reached out and just offered that, I'm sure will just mean the world to them. So but if it's within back to my original point. If it's within your purview to do so, I really encourage you to take the day before you're due to be gone off. So include that in your vacation request. And then on the other side, take the time take the extra day when you come back. So if you're due to come back, your cruise is is set to dock at the port or your plane is due to land, or the train is scheduled to roll into the station, or your road trip is ending on 10th, in my example of you being out, like, the first through 10th, take the 11th off. Trust me again. Your future self will love you for it because we all know what that's like.

Debra Coleman [00:13:45]:
Okay. You come back from travel. The next day, again, pure madness, but in reverse. Pur pure madness, but in reverse. Sorry. My doggy was making noise, so that's what's going on. The pup is here in the room with me. Sorry for that.

Debra Coleman [00:14:00]:
So, the next day the next day, take it off. The day you come back because we've all been there. There's laundry. There's groceries to get. There's just there's, again, Target runs. Walmart runs. You know, grocery runs. Laundry to do.

Debra Coleman [00:14:16]:
Follow-up with just your home tasks. Mail to catch up on, bills to pay, neighbors to touch base with, pets to pick up. You know, maybe you dropped off your fur baby to be watched. You know? Kids to pick up. Maybe this was a vacay without the kiddos, so you gotta go get them. You know? Don't forget to pick up the kiddos, or the fur babies. So there's a lot. Speaking of fur babies, Jack.

Debra Coleman [00:14:38]:
Anyway, so so stop that. A crazy fur baby. So the day after, you all know it's crazy town. So try your hardest to take that day as well. Include that in your time off request. We all know how much we need that date. We need it. Again, been there, done that.

Debra Coleman [00:15:00]:
I've come back to work the very next day after vacation, and I will honestly tell you my mind is half in it. Like, my mind, I'm halfway at work. 50% of me is at work. 50% of me is at home, knowing all the things I still need to do and catch up on and knowing that that's gonna have to wait till the weekend. And now my weekend is shot because Saturday Sunday is completely taken up with all the stuff that was waiting for me to do upon coming back from being gone. Laundry, mail, bills, like, whatever. You know? So do yourself a favor in requesting your time off. Please, if you can do so, include a day before and a day after.

Debra Coleman [00:15:37]:
And if you can include full days, give yourself the grace of at least a half day, At least a half day. At least a half day before and at least a half day after. I mean, honestly, it's all a part of it. Preplanning and pre vacation and post vacation is absolutely a part of your PTO time, so use it. Use it. Hey. Use sick time if you have to because that that's all a part of mental wellness. So totally justifiable.

Debra Coleman [00:16:05]:
Anyway, so be clear on your last day before vacation and your return to office dates. Be very clear and solid on that, when you're communicating you're out of office. Update. Don't forget, of course, update your voice mail and your email. Again, repeating when you'll be out and when you're returning and if there is somebody else they can go to for help if they need it. Right? That goes without saying. And, hey, if your office culture kind of, like, allows for it, have fun with that out of office message. I have seen, like, in your email, your out of office email, even in voice mail.

Debra Coleman [00:16:36]:
Like, I have heard and seen people really have fun with this. Like, hey. I'm sitting beachside. I've earned this time. I'm sorry. I can't help you, but I'll return to you after I, you know, cruise back in the like, just they I've seen people have really fun with it. And because I can appreciate that type of humor, I adore it. I think that's really fun.

Debra Coleman [00:16:53]:
So if office culture allows, have fun with your out of office, but also clearly state when you'll be gone, when you'll return. And if if this is like within your, you know, if this is a part of your process, who somebody can who they can turn to, if they need immediate help. Otherwise, you'll get back to them upon your return. And don't forget as I do all the time. Honestly, I'm so bad at this. Don't forget to clue that person in. Like, if you've if you've tagged somebody in your out of office message, like, for help or for immediate assistance, please talk to Jane Doe at this email address. Don't forget to let Jane Doe know that you've put her as a contact in your out of office.

Debra Coleman [00:17:31]:
I have done that a time or 2, and I always come back apologizing, you know, to the person who was backing me up. Unbeknownst to them, they were backing me up. You know? So don't forget to do that. So just a little reminder. I know we all are really good at that, but just a little reminder, update your voice mail and email accordingly with your return to office dates. Let your office office mates know, of course, you know, when you'll be gone and, let them know. And even if you maybe work in a type of environment where you're, like, in a hallway situation. I know at 1 1, office on campus I was on, We were a department, but we were in a hallway.

Debra Coleman [00:18:09]:
Like, everybody had their own office. So we weren't clustered bullpen style where we can all see each other. We are all in cubicles. It was a hallway style. So that's really tricky because you don't know if someone's door is closed. You know? Are they in there just on a call? Are they in a meeting? Are they just gone to lunch? Are they just running late? You know, sometimes your officemates can't tell if you're in that type of an environment. And sometimes your hallmates aren't necessarily even in your department. You know, you're just sharing retail space with people.

Debra Coleman [00:18:37]:
Right? So, let if you're in an environment where it's not readily obvious that you're gonna be gone, just do those around you, like, in that hallway scenario that I just shared with you, that you'll be gone. Just let them know because you know what happens, especially on a college campus. People will walk by and and pop their head in. Hey. Do you know where Jane Doe is? No. I don't. I'm sorry. I don't know.

Debra Coleman [00:18:59]:
Her door is closed. Gosh. I don't know. You know? Or they could say, yes. She's on vacation. She's due back next week. Just shoot her an email. I'm sure she'll respond upon her return.

Debra Coleman [00:19:09]:
Like, that's so much easier for them because you know they're gonna get bugged. You know it. They're totally gonna get bugged because they share real they share real estate with you. So someone will pop in and say, hey. Do you know where Deb is? Nope. She's on vacay. You know? And, maybe it even requires, like I used do this too when I was in that type of a situation is I would leave a note, like, taped to my door or, like, underneath my name plaque saying, you know, out of office, on vacay, we'll return blah blah blah. You know, just so if somebody walks up to the door, they can read for themselves, hopefully.

Debra Coleman [00:19:40]:
Hopefully, they're adulting that day, and they will actually read for themselves. Oh, Deb's gone. Okay. And then that way, bothering your hallmates isn't necessary because you have clearly communicated. No 1 is in here. Don't bother buff bugging anybody else. I am gone. I'll reach out to you upon my return.

Debra Coleman [00:19:55]:
Thank you. Okay. So let your office mates know, especially if you're in an environment where it's not readily obvious that and we you can actually see each other. You know? So let your hallmates or let other people know you'll be gone because you know that they will get bugged where you are. So do them a solid by letting them know you're out. If you delegate tasks, have patience that it won't be done exactly as you would. I have been on the receiving end and the giving end of that. Like, I have asked people who are covering for me.

Debra Coleman [00:20:26]:
I hate to do this, but, unfortunately, XYZ will be happening while I'm out. If you could just simply do this for me, that would be beautiful. That's great. They've agreed to it. Everybody's on board. They know. So the task that you ask them to do, they may do it in their own style, or they may do it in a way that isn't exactly a 100% how you would have. Let's just celebrate the fact that they offered to cover for you and they are doing the thing.

Debra Coleman [00:20:53]:
You can sit here and roll your eyes and and and and bemoan the fact that they didn't do it the same way you did silently when you get back. But don't, like, do that to them. I've been on the receiving end of that, like, you know, complaining. Oh my gosh. Well, that's great that you covered, but why did you do it this way? Or why did you collect it this way? That's not how I would've done it. Listen, bitch. You were on vacay. I covered for you.

Debra Coleman [00:21:14]:
Just be happy that it even got done in the first place. Okay? So let's just have a little bit of space and grace. If someone is actually doing a task for you while you're gone. Not just covering and and, like, you know, catching your phone, but actually doing something in your absence. Let's just celebrate the fact that they've agreed to do it and they're doing it. And when you get back, if it's not done exactly the way you would have, that's okay. And even if doing it exactly is per policy or that's per, like, guidelines, that's okay too. You know what? There there are more things that are forgivable offense than not, and that's easily explained away.

Debra Coleman [00:21:52]:
If someone's like, why did the notes get captured this way? That's not normally how we do it. You know what? Easily hand easily explained. I was on vacay. I asked Jane Doe to cover for me. This is how she chose to process the notes. No problem. I'll get them back in the format that we're used to. End of story.

Debra Coleman [00:22:06]:
Right? Let's not make a big, you know, congressional hearing out of this or make the other person feel bad for helping you out. Approach the tasks or whatever they did for you with some with some grace and say thank you. And then and and then behind the scenes, course correct and do whatever revisions or updates need to be made. But you don't need to, like, have them, you know, feel bad about it. So if you delegate tasks, have patience that it won't be done exactly as you would do it, and then just fix it behind the scenes. No need to make someone feel bad about it. Okay? Alright. Now when you come back, these this this this advice is when you're back.

Debra Coleman [00:22:47]:
So when you come back, do yourself a solid and don't put pressure on yourself to do all the things all at once. Okay? It's fine. Yes. You're gonna have thousands of team or Slack, messages. Fine. Whatever. That comes with the territory. Go through them 1 at a time.

Debra Coleman [00:23:07]:
Set aside some time blocking. This is where time blocking might come in handy. You know, the first couple hours, I'm just gonna go through emails. The second half of the day after lunch, maybe I'll go through or up until lunch, I'll go through all the team's messages or whatever your process is. Right? I'm not again, not telling you what to do. But upon your return, maybe blocking off time to tackle things rather than, okay. I'm checking a Teams message. I'm checking an email.

Debra Coleman [00:23:31]:
I'm checking it, like, bouncing back and forth. Sometimes that does, like, a disservice to us. But I can appreciate that some tasks that fall into email might actually bridge over or blend into a team's message, and that's fine too. My message here is to don't overwhelm yourself. Take it 1 task, 1 message, 1 email at a time. And prioritize the best that you can and handle accordingly. Now if you get somebody who is like, you've been out. I've been trying to reach you.

Debra Coleman [00:24:05]:
Well, first of all, dummy, if you read my out of office message, you would know I was out. 2nd of all, you're not the only 1 who needs help, so just take a chill pill, and I'll get to you when I can. That's what I say internally. Now externally, of course, I am much more professional and kind than that. You know? Come, operate with grace. Right? But firm. Do not apologize. Don't say, oh, no.

Debra Coleman [00:24:28]:
I'm sorry. I was out. No. No. Strike that. Delete delete. Strike that from the record. Do not apologize.

Debra Coleman [00:24:35]:
You acknowledge, yes. I understand the urgency. I was out on much deserved PTO time. So I see your message, and I will get to it as soon as I can. I actually have a few more urgent tasks that I need to really that really need my attention. But after lunch, yours is next up. Yours is next up to bat. I promise.

Debra Coleman [00:24:54]:
Now usually, like, 99.9% of folks or colleagues will totally be down with that, totally accept that, and work with you. It's that 1% that push back, that get nasty about it. Hold firm. Don't bend. Don't apologize. Hold firm. I you know what, Jane? I completely understand the urgency. Let me just get a few of these other high priority items checked off, and then I will get right to yours.

Debra Coleman [00:25:21]:
Can you give me an hour? You know? Or can you give me till after lunch? Or can you give me till tomorrow morning? Like, whatever your boundary is, if they continue to push back. Hold firm. Do not apologize. This was your time off, goddamn it, and so you should not apologize for that. Hold firm, politely and professionally and courteously, of course, but hold firm. Hold firm. Okay? So ease back gently. Recognize the high priority items and the high priority bugaboos.

Debra Coleman [00:25:53]:
Get them dealt with as you are able. Reassure them you see them. You see them. You see that red exclamation point. You get it, and you will get to it accordingly. You promise. Right? You will get there. Don't let someone else make you feel rushed and make you feel like you are falling down on the job or that you're not doing what you're supposed to or, you know, make you regret taking time off.

Debra Coleman [00:26:20]:
No, sir. That is not how we're playing. That is not the rules here. The rule is you took PTO, and they will have to wait their turn along with everybody else. Now it will maybe there might be some communication that you may have to do. Hey. I'm back from vacay. I see you need x, y, and z.

Debra Coleman [00:26:36]:
This is just to let you know. I saw your email. I'm getting to it. Give me some time. You know, maybe some sort of communication like that. Just letting people know, yes. I'm back. I see you, and I will get to you.

Debra Coleman [00:26:46]:
You know, maybe some sort of communication like that will help. But, anyway, bottom line here is ease back gently. Give yourself grace and grace and space to play catch up, and let those 1% bugaboos know you see them waving their hand in the back of the classroom, and you'll get to them as soon as time allows or as soon as you can. Right? So don't let them make you feel bad for taking time off. Let's not let's not lose that good vacay mojo because they have a couple of assholes who don't understand or appreciate that. Okay? So that's my sassy response to that. And if you can if you can, resist the urge to work while you're out. This is my last bit of advice.

Debra Coleman [00:27:30]:
Resist the urge to work while you're out. Now I have been guilty of this. Depending on the type of vacation it is or the type of time off I'm taking, I may pop in just to my email, And all I will do is is delete what I like to call are the commercials. Right? Those emails that are like from outside vendors or they're just like external emails that are just, like, you know, you know, the commercials. They're not they're just, like, hey. We're having a 50% off sale on Office Depot Supplies. You know, that sort of thing. It's like, delete.

Debra Coleman [00:28:02]:
Like, I have been known to hop in and just delete those, because when you come back, so hopefully, your inbox will be populated with just the emails that you actually need to read, act on, do all the things for, etcetera. Right? So I have been known during a vacation to pop in the email just to get rid of the commercials. Right? And then I pop back out. Like, I'm not I'm not you know? So if you have to do that, okay, I'm with you on that. I've done it myself. The other thing that I have been known to do is I will pop in if I know that while I'm out, something of pretty high priority is happening, or I'm expecting an email from someone that is a high priority. And it really would actually be better for me to take 2 seconds out of my vacation time to check to see if they responded back to me, because it would save me heartache later. You know, especially if you're, like, on a 2 week vacay or a 10 day vacay or, like, you know, those long ones.

Debra Coleman [00:29:01]:
And if you kind of know, I gotta hope I think I have a high profile email coming in while I'm out. You may wanna check-in just to make sure that came in okay. Or if you have to respond to this individual, again, it will save a lot of heartache later. I know I know it's breaking the rule, but if it's something of that sort of urgency, sometimes it's worth taking an extra 2 seconds out of your vacay just to kinda handle that 1 and then put it to bed and get out. Right? Close that Outlook app or Gmail app. Close it. Close it. Close it.

Debra Coleman [00:29:33]:
Get it out. Turn off notifications. Right? Once you've handled that thing, and then get out of it. Right? So I do. I have been known to do that myself. But as a general rule, do not check. Do not check. Like, keep those notifications off.

Debra Coleman [00:29:47]:
Keep that Outlook or Gmail app closed down. Do not check anything until you are back, because that's what catch up is for. Right? Really try to be in the moment with those that you are on vacay with. Whether they're family, friends, you know, whoever it is. Partners, spouses, kiddos, parents, whoever it is. Friends, neighbors, you know, strangers, you know, whatever the situation is, really work hard to be in the moment in that vacay because you will be back to real life sooner than you know. And so it is so important to treasure the time and be in the moment. Be present.

Debra Coleman [00:30:23]:
Even if it's a staycation for you, even if you're like, hey. I'm just home. You know? I'm just getting things done. I'm watching what I wanna watch. I'm just enjoying life at my at my house or at my residence or at my abode for the week. That's great too. Be in the moment. Really treasure that time because you know what, friends? It is spewing far between these days, it feels like anyway.

Debra Coleman [00:30:42]:
And so really be in the moment and enjoy it. You earned it. You deserve it. I know when I choose to do that when I'm out, when I come back to work, honestly, I do feel mentally and physically refreshed. And so I'm ready now to tackle all the, like, dumpster fire issues that are waiting for me upon my return. I feel strong. It's like I'm Wonder Woman. I've got my, like, anti bullet bracelets on, and then I'm like, let's go.

Debra Coleman [00:31:09]:
Let's do the thing. Come on. I'm an Avenger on, Red Bull. Let's get it done because I filled my cup up with much needed space away. Space away. And so it does wonders. So give yourself the space and grace to honestly enjoy your vacay time. That's my last bit of advice for you.

Debra Coleman [00:31:29]:
So I hope you enjoy these tips and tricks. I'm sorry it went a little on the longer side. I usually try to keep these less than 30 minutes, but, you know, this is an important topic. And once again, I do thank, Joan for that wonderful article and for kicking off this, like, idea for a mini cast. And I'm sure you have your own rituals and your own thoughts on how to handle being out of office and returning out of office. As always, as I always say, I would love to continue the conversation with you. So shoot me an email with some of your thoughts or register office. I would love to know, your thoughts on the subject.

Debra Coleman [00:32:02]:
So, office. I would love to know, your thoughts on the subject. So as always, my friends, I hope you enjoyed this mini cast. And stay safe, be well, and remember, keep having those conversations. Until next week.