Planning annual leave with confidence: reducing stress before you switch off

18 Jul 2025

The planning and lead up to taking time away from work for a break can cause a level of stress; it can sometimes feel like a juggling act stepping away from a busy role and worrying about handing things over. In this story, Wellbeing Manager Maizy Jenner shares some practical considerations for you to think about.

Plan proactively

• Organise leave intentionally: book and block your calendar and notify relevant teammates when you will be away
• If taking a week’s break or longer does not feel possible, consider extending weekends to allow for a break

Create a simple handover

Use a handover document or email covering:

• Key tasks in progress
• Deadlines and contacts
• Any potential issues to monitor

Handovers should be clear and concise and stored somewhere accessible (e.g. a shared drive or via Teams)

Arrange cover and communicate

• Discuss with your manager or team who will cover key responsibilities while you’re away
• Be clear about expectations: do any emails need action, or can they wait?
• Let external contacts know in advance if your absence may affect them

Set a thoughtful out-of-office message

Consider including the following:

• Your return date
• A contact for urgent matters
• A note encouraging non-urgent messages to be resent after your return (to avoid backlog)

Mentally switch off

• Log out of work emails and apps on your phone
• Turn off work-related notifications if you're using the same device for personal use
• Try to limit or avoid checking in ‘just in case’- trust your colleagues and your plan

Be kind to yourself and others

• If you're feeling anxious about being away, talk it through with your line manager as there may be adjustments that can help
• If your team is in a busy period, look for ways to support each other fairly, for example, rotating cover or staggering leave

After you return

• If your calendar allows, block some time out on your first day back to catch-up and review handovers
• Say thank you to colleagues who helped cover while you were away

Maizy Jenner (she/her)
Wellbeing Manager (for staff)