I'm about to go on an extended holiday – how do I make sure there isn't a mountain of work when I get back
Here, Karren gives her expert advice to a reader who is looking for help on writing a CV.
Q: I'm soon due to go on an extended holiday for almost a month, but I'm already worried about the mountain of work waiting for me when I get back.
Although I'm part of a wider team, I largely work autonomously and don't have anyone I can hand my workload over to while I'm away.
I'm trying to get ahead as much as possible, but there's only so much I can do, and I'm now starting to panic.
I'm thinking about taking my work phone away with me so I can try to stay on top of things a bit, plus it will help keep my anxiety levels down, as at least I'll know what's going on.
My friends say this is a bad idea, though.
What do you think?
Julia, via email
A: Time off should leave you feeling refreshed, not like you've just been working remotely.
Start by setting clear boundaries now, before you leave.
Communicate early and openly with your manager and the wider team – share the dates you'll be out of the office and say you're happy to help tie up loose ends beforehand.
Apprentice star Karren Brady terrified after burglar launched FOUR raids on £6m home in 16 hours taking designer gear
Even if there's no direct cover for your role, see if any tasks can be paused or reassigned temporarily before you go.
Set a detailed out-of-office reply with your return date and a contact for any urgent matters.
Rather than having your work phone constantly on, consider gradually checking in during the final few days of your break – just 15-30 minutes a day could ease the transition without disrupting your rest.
And finally, remember to plan for a light workload and meetings schedule on your first few days back to enable you to focus on clearing your inbox and updating your to-do list.
Enjoy this time off – a month-long holiday doesn't happen very often, so make the most of it.
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