Taking time off work is essential for your well-being and long-term productivity but many professionals struggle to actually disconnect when the time comes. Whether you’ve booked a full week away or just a long weekend, preparing properly before your break is the key to switching off guilt-free and returning to work focused and energised.
At Platform Recruitment, we understand the demands of high-performance industries like tech, engineering, and recruitment. That’s why we’ve pulled together our top practical tips to help you wind down properly, reduce stress, and hit the ground running when you're back at your desk.
Need help managing workloads before or after a break? Whether you're hiring or job hunting, get in touch: here.
1. Communicate in Advance
Let your colleagues, clients and candidates know about your upcoming time off well ahead of time. This helps manage expectations, avoid last-minute surprises and gives everyone time to wrap up anything urgent before you're offline.
Tip: Add your holiday dates to shared calendars and mention them in your email signature a week or two before you go.
2. Wrap Up Open Projects
Before signing off, try to close out key tasks or projects or at least leave them in a place where someone else can step in if needed. This avoids a stressful backlog and helps your team keep things ticking along in your absence.
Create a handover doc or checklist with current status updates, next steps and relevant logins or documents.
3. Set Clear Boundaries with Your Out-of-Office
Craft an auto-reply that clearly outlines when you're away, when you’ll be back and who to contact in your absence. This reinforces your boundaries and keeps things professional.
Example: "Thanks for your message! I’m currently out of the office, returning on [Date]. For urgent queries, please contact [Name & Contact Info]."
4. Tidy Your Digital Space
Declutter your inbox, file your documents and tie up any loose admin. Coming back to a chaotic desktop and 387 unread emails isn’t exactly the welcome home you’ll want.
Pro tip: Use your email client’s scheduling feature to send follow-ups or tasks when you’re back so you don’t feel the pressure while you’re away.
5. Switch Off - Literally
If your company allows it, remove work apps from your phone or mute notifications. A break means a break and constant pings won’t help you rest.
Mental health matters: Studies show that disconnecting from work leads to better performance and focus after time off.
6. Ease Back In with a Buffer Day
If possible, avoid packing your first day back with meetings or calls. Use that time to go through emails, plan your week and catch up on anything that’s changed while you were off.
Tip: Block off your first morning back in your calendar so you can catch up without distraction.
7. Reflect and Re-set Your Goals
Time away is a great opportunity to reflect on what’s working and what could be better. When you return, take a few minutes to revisit your goals and refocus your energy.
Think about: What tasks energise you? Where can you add the most value this quarter?
Taking Time Off is a Strength, Not a Weakness
We believe that rest is productive. Whether you're a developer deep in code, an engineer on the shop floor or a recruiter working with high-growth start-ups, stepping away can sharpen your thinking, increase motivation and improve long-term performance.
At Platform Recruitment, we know what it takes to build high-performing teams and that includes sustainable working habits. If you're hiring or job searching this season, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
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