Maintaining your health and how you are productive, especially during the holidays, is essential. You are going to take a vacation, perhaps spending time with your family; it will allow all of you to re-energize and get away from your routine; this is not a time where you will want to think about deadlines or projects that are not completed.

When taking annual leave, this can create different levels of pressure on teams that you are leaving behind because of workload issues, which tend to occur when the weather gets warmer during the summer. If you are going to take a vacation, perhaps a few months off, these are things that you should do before going on your holiday:

1. Identify who can cover

Completing projects you are working on should be at the forefront of your planning, especially if you will be absent for an extended period. Choosing the right person to replace you in your absence is the key to making this work. Whoever takes over for you should have clear instructions on what to do.

2. Tie up loose ends

Any projects that are not completed will make it very difficult for your team while you are gone. Try to look at individual projects you can complete before you go; this will minimize any potential confusion. Before going, it's essential to have an open diary that will allow you to evaluate what needs to be done; plus, you will also need to clear out your inbox if possible.

3. Decide which tasks can be left

The level of attention you put into each project may not be the same for each one you are responsible for. There are some things that you may need to leave alone for up to a week until you get back. There is no reason to burden others with nonessential tasks; if you don't do this, they will spend less time on projects they also need to work on.

4. Outline potential issues

It is essential to tell your team that you are leaving long before you depart. They do not need surprises as this will make it more difficult for them. You may also want to try and predict what will happen while you are gone so that, in any situation, the person covering for you will know what to do. Use Tracktime24.com to identify areas that may need attention in your absence.

5. Communicate

Always communicate with people at your place of employment before you leave. This will ensure that everyone knows you will be gone and that any notes must be shared. It's also essential to have an out-of-office response on your email account that will tell people that you are not there when you are back and who they can contact if it is an emergency.

This is always a good thing if you take annual leave to recharge. However, you need to properly prepare for your departure to minimize any problems in your absence so that you can simply pick up where you left off after your vacation with as little impact on the company as possible.