Whether you are getting ready to take a vacation or take extended time off for a baby or other life event, it’s important to properly prepare your clients and your business. Here are five ways to help prepare your business and your clients for your vacation or time off.

1. Schedule your absence ahead of time. Put the dates in your calendar and let clients and staff know as soon as possible. The longer you are going to be away, the more notice you want to give.

2. Set the expectations with clients. As soon as you confirm your vacation dates, let your clients know. Tell them the date you will leave, the date you return to the office and whether or not you will be reachable. If you have an assistant or associate who will be answering calls and email while you are away, introduce this person to your clients at this time.

3. Send a “last call” email the week before you leave. Are there any last minute tasks they need help with or have questions on? This email is also a great final reminder that you will soon be gone.

4. Don’t take on new clients or tasks right before you leave. If you get a new inquiry the day before you leave, thank them for the email and let the potential client know you be on vacation and will get in touch when you return. Believe it or not, the world will not end and your business will still continue to run even if you put off a few inquiries until you get back. If a current client makes a request right before you leave, stand your ground and explain that you have put the task on your to-do list for when you return from vacation.

5. Stand your ground when you are gone. If you have told clients you won’t be checking email, don’t check or reply to email! You have set the expectation now you have to stick with it. Time off is so important in our industry. We teach our clients how to treat us so take your precious time off to spend with family, friends or just with yourself.