It’s officially holiday season. You know, that time of the year when the holiday slump starts to settle in, and everything becomes “next year’s problem.” But here's the thing: Many workers struggle to come back after taking holiday PTO, and those who do take PTO often find difficulty in setting boundaries and aren't able to truly unplug from work during the holidays.
We tapped Glassdoor Community users to find out the trick to actually staying offline and setting work boundaries during the holidays. A poll of nearly 350 workers showed that 44% are actually good at staying offline. Here are four not-so-obvious tips they shared that go beyond just setting an out-of-office message.
- Communicate your absence in advance
Don't wait until the day before you leave to tell people you'll be gone. One Consulting Supervisor shared their approach: "My PTO and office closures are in my email signature a month ahead of time, and I communicate with my clients so they know I'm not available."
This simple move does two things: it sets expectations early, and it gives people plenty of time to plan around your absence. No last-minute panic, no "I didn't know you'd be out" messages piling up. When everyone knows well in advance, they're far less likely to reach out during your time off.
- Shift your mindset: Put family obligations first to justify staying offline
Here's a mindset shift that really works: treat your personal life like the other job it actually is. As one IT Consultant put it: "Nowadays, as I close the Company door and head back home, I STOP with being an IT Professional and start adjusting to my other job as a Father/Grandfather and husband."
Work will always be there, but your family's holiday memories will only happen once. When you mentally clock out and fully step into your personal roles, it becomes easier to justify staying offline. Your family obligations aren't secondary — they're the main event during the holidays.
- Turn off all work notifications before you leave (including networking apps)
This one's obvious, right? Turn off work notifications. But here's what many people forget: LinkedIn notifications need to go too. One worker learned this the hard way when coworkers started blowing up their LinkedIn inbox while they were supposed to be on vacation. It was a swift reminder that professional networking platforms can be just as intrusive as work emails.
As one Coordinator simply put it: "Don't respond. And turn off LinkedIn notifications too." It's not just about your work email and Slack; it's about every channel where work can find you. Turn them all off, at least temporarily. You can always turn them back on when you return.
- Designate a backup contact or clearly communicate what people can expect
Let's be real: sometimes you need to check in, especially if you're in a client-facing role or a position where things can't just wait. But there's a smart way to do this without getting sucked back into work mode.
One Director shared their strategy: "I have my email on my phone, so I'll reply if it's urgent. But unless it's a quick, easy question, that's mostly just in order to cc in an alternate contact to handle the issue so I can stay disconnected."
The trick is having that backup person identified before you leave. Make sure someone who isn't on PTO knows they're the go-to for your area while you're out. That way, you can quickly redirect without getting pulled into the weeds.
Not everyone has the luxury of a backup person, and that's okay. The important thing is being honest and upfront about what your boundaries will be. If you absolutely cannot check email, say that clearly in your out-of-office message. If you can handle genuine emergencies but nothing else, spell that out. The worst thing you can do is be vague. When you clearly communicate what people can and cannot expect from you while you're out, you're much more likely to actually get the break you need.
The bottom line: Actually disconnecting during the holidays is really about setting yourself up for success before you even leave. Plan ahead, communicate clearly, turn off the digital tethers, and give yourself permission to be fully present with the people who matter most. Your work will survive. And you'll come back so much better for having truly taken a break.
For more tips from job seekers on how to unplug from work during the holidays, check out the Worklife Bowl.