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🌟 How a Simple Out-of-Office Message Changed My Life 🌟 We've all been there: returning to work after a vacation or a few days off, only to be greeted by an overwhelming inbox filled with outdated requests and maybe even irrelevant emails. For years, I thought this was just part of the job—until I learned a new approach. Instead of the usual "I'll get back to you when I'm back" message, I dared to try something different. Here's the out-of-office message that changed everything: " Thank you for your message. I'm unable to deal with your request as I'm currently out of the office. If applicable, please re-post your e-mail again after the 12th of August 2024. Keep in mind: Your message will be removed from my inbox in an automated way. Fore security questions, please contact the security team via ...... " The results? Life-changing. A happy holiday and no more spending days reviewing outdated emails. No more sorting through irrelevant requests. This simple message has given me back hours, even days of my time after returning to the office. If you're also tired of the post-vacation email slog, I highly recommend giving this a try. It might just change your life too! 💼✨ #Productivity #WorkLifeBalance #EmailManagement #OutOfOffice #HolidayMode #LinkedInNewsUK

Do you look forward to your holiday but dread the hundreds of emails when you return? 😩 I just thought I’d share a few hacks which I picked up during my corporate life. Hope they are useful! 🥳 ⭐ ALWAYS use the out of office facility ⭐ We all want to respect other people’s holidays and avoid disruptions. But people aren’t psychic. It’s always good to let people know when you are leaving and even more importantly - when you are returning to work. This includes your internal organisation as well as external stakeholders, which you can easily personalise for both in Outlook. ⭐ Use this HACK with your teams and colleagues⭐ When I was managing a team, I asked all my staff to create one email in draft at the start of my holiday. Subsequently, they consolidate all their correspondence into a single email, ensuring I am kept in the loop without inundating me with redundant email threads upon my return. On the day prior to my return from holiday, the email can undergo a review process to eliminate any irrelevant content or outdated information. As a result, you receive only one email from that team member upon your return. Previously, I designated one person to oversee this process, collecting all team members' emails into a single consolidated message. ⭐ WRITE a clear out of office message ⭐ You could reiterate that you're away on holiday and will not be available to address messages. However, in your absence, the following individuals can handle enquiries related to specific topics: ➡️ For matters concerning A, please reach out to B. ➡️ If your email pertains to C, kindly contact D. By delegating responsibilities in this manner, you empower your team members and ensure that your client base continues to receive the necessary support during your absence. AND if you must check emails during your holiday, allocate a 30-minute slot and stick to it! Does anybody else have any out of office suggestions? #holidays #emailhacks #outofofficemessage

I went from being unable to not check my inbox and action client emails to stress-free breaks with this 2-minute email hack I added my working days and upcoming holidays to my email signature. That's it. We often feel like we need to be available 24/7. We send out a welcome booklet that's read once and, if we're being honest, probably forgotten about. Setting boundaries and implementing them is hard. We worry that it might make us seem less committed or difficult. Since implementing this TINY change: 👉 Clients are respectful of my time off 👉 I've had two stress-free breaks from my business 👉 My inbox isn't overflowing when I return 👉 I have time to reset before diving back in I've had so many clients/other service providers say, "I love that idea! Can I use it?" (Of course, my answer is always YES!) We may think that no one reads email signatures. But now, during calls with leads or clients, they often say, "Oh, don't you have leave coming up?" They're aware. They're respectful. And all it took was a 2-minute update to my email signature. This is what my email signature looked like this summer: ------ Best, Hollie | OBM Working Days: Monday to Thursday Upcoming Annual Leave: Friday 21st June until Tuesday 2nd July Wednesday 5th September until Monday 16th September ------ Add annual leave to your signature 6-8 weeks before the dates you are off - this gives you AND your clients time to prep for this time off. Your time is valuable. Your boundaries matter. And sometimes, the smallest changes can have the biggest impact. Have you tried this? Or do you have another boundary-setting hack? Share in the comments! 👇

Since today is Friday, the last working day for most of the offices. I would like to remind you to do the following tasks so that you can enjoy your weekend with your family and friends. - Complete all of your tasks before today day end. If there is something that can go unfinished today, update to your managers and clients in advance so that there is no miscommunication ahead. - At day end, push all of your code to your remote repositories and don't leave any code uncommit or unpushed. - Don't deploy any code to production and don't even push any changes on it. Plan your production activities either on Monday or at the middle of the week. If you won't follow the above strategies, then there is a chance that your weekend will be ruined and you will come back to your office demotivated or may be frustrated. Hope that everybody will be having a wonderful weekend ahead! #Friday #Weekend #WorkLifeBalance #CareerAdvice #MentalHealth #OfficeLife

Does the old "out-of-office" template need a revamp? In time, I have tried and tested numerous ways to have the most effective out of office message responder whilst on holidays. 1. 'I am out of the office without email access' - this means either you are having a digital detox or are in the middle of the desert or you simply do not want to check your email during your vacation. If the latter, you'd better say it. With the internet access almost ubiquitous, your message risks to be perceived as a passive-aggresive 'leave-me-alone' hint (not very polite). 2. What do you prefer? For me to spend 2 weeks going through my inbox upon my return from holidays and finally getting to see your message or for you to resend your message upon the day of my returning to the office, ensuring it's a fresh send, that I will see and respond that same day? 3. Bulk-move the emails received during the holidays (for me, about 2,000 during 2 weeks) in a separate folder and wait for the real important ones to surge/be resent by people really needing my response. More frustrating for the sender, more efficient for the receiver. And you, what is your technique to deal with the FOMOs, JOMOs and panick attacks upon your return to an overflowing inbox? #HolidayMode #LinkedInNewsUK

We're already coming to the end of the second week of the school summer holidays and although I'm shattered from trying to balance everything it's not been too bad. However, with people typically going away for that much-deserved summer break there comes the inevitable out-of-office responses. LinkedIn has been asking 'Does the old "out-of-office" template need a revamp?' and I think it does - but only slightly. When I worked in bigger companies there was always a standard template for when you were taking annual leave. 'Thanks for your email, I'm currently on annual leave returning (on this day). If your query is urgent, please email (insert person's name here.)' It's standard, works, and ticks all the boxes, letting people know of alternative contacts. When I was in the office I'd always try and inject some personality into it, without being unprofessional or straying from the company tone of voice. 'Thanks for your email, I'm currently enjoying the weather in sunny Cyprus (sorry!) I'll be back on (this date) but please email (these people) and they'll be able to help. Speak soon.' The difference may seem minimal but tonally it's a lot lighter. Nowadays, people are trying to be so inventive with their out-of-office notifications (with one recently I saw using James Buckley to record a video.) And that's great, as long as it fits with the company's tone of voice, or if you run your own business, it matches yours. What do you think? Does the out of office need to be shaken like a holiday cocktail? #HolidayMode #LinkedInNewsUK

Do you find it difficult to unplug and disconnect from work even when on vacation? You're not alone. In fact, many professionals still check their emails and LinkedIn while on R&R. However, it's important to take a break and recharge your batteries. Here are a few tips to help you stay connected while still allowing yourself to fully relax: - Set boundaries: Communicate with your colleagues and clients that you will be on vacation and limit your availability during that time. - Prioritize: Identify the most important tasks that need to be handled while you're away and delegate them to someone on your team. - Automate: Utilize tools like autoresponders and scheduling software to manage your inbox and social media accounts while you're out of the office. Remember, taking time off to rest and rejuvenate is crucial for your well-being and productivity in the long run. So, go ahead and enjoy your vacation without the constant interruptions of work. Which of these tips is your favorite? #theshermethod. #rejuvenate

Lots of my colleagues have been on holiday, and I have got some leave booked soon. Of course, being away from work for some R&R* is great, but the thought of coming back to work feels like Sunday evening x100. My thoughts? Take control of what you can: - Let people in your team know exactly how long you are away for, and if necessary put a note in your email signature so that it won't be a surprise that you aren't there. - Write your out of office autoreply to set a clear expectation that not only will you NOT be checking email, but it may take a few days to respond even after you arrive. - If you are prone to checking email or Teams when you are not working, either delete the app or at least log out while you are on a break. The emails and messages will still be there when you get back, but at least you won't have had a sneak preview of a message that sends shivers down your spine, lurking in the corner of your holiday. - Finally for now: while you are away, and even when you return, try and remember that "always on" usually equals "not very productive". Only a few more days until #holidaymode activated! Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://lnkd.in/e8e2-Ytw * I had a boss once whose out of office said that they were "away for some R&R (rays and rioja)"!

🌟 Happy Friday, LinkedIn Community! 🌟 Wrapping Up the Week! As we wrap up this week and look forward to the weekend, I wanted to share a quick thought. The journey of working remotely is filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and connection. Every day brings new challenges that push us to adapt and excel. Balancing multiple responsibilities, managing time effectively, and staying connected with clients and colleagues are key elements of my daily routine. It’s amazing how technology allows us to remain productive and engaged from anywhere in the world. I’m grateful for the chance to support and collaborate with wonderful clients from all over the globe. 🌍 Here’s to embracing new challenges, learning something new each day, and striving for excellence in all we do. If you’re looking for dedicated support to streamline your operations and boost productivity, let’s connect! 💼 Wishing everyone a fantastic Friday and a relaxing weekend! #RemoteWork #CustomerService #DataEntry #AdministrativeSupport #Productivity #WorkFromHome #FridayFeeling #WeekendVibes