#89
As I prepare to leave NZ for a long overdue and long-in-length family trip back to the Northern hemisphere, I am sitting here thinking about how I have written my out-of-office automatic reply.
Well, it’s actually multiple replies, set up on my multiple email accounts.
Writing a OOO is really for the benefit of my fringe, or infrequent connections. Anyone I am working with closely will already be aware that I am going away, how I plan to tidy up work matters before we fly and when I am back.
I know I need to set up something, but I haven’t quite found the right words yet. Maybe you can help me out. Which of these options sounds like it hits the right tone?
Thanks for contacting me - I'm less available than usual so please expect a slow reply, or maybe no reply before 18 September. I appreciate your patience while I take a break with my family.
I am currently on an extended break and not checking my emails frequently. Please check back after 18 September if I do not respond to you personally before then.
Back at normal capacity after 18 September. [because the OOO alone should really tell you that I’m away]
_________________________ something else? Help!
Photo by Torsten Dettlaff.
Perhaps harder than writing the ‘right’ OOO is cultivating the discipline to not monitor my emails while we are away. This will be a challenge for me, mostly because the trip is so long I will need to keep some level of contact with a few matters. I’ve unplugged for week-long camping holidays before and I can imagine some stretches of this trip will be like that. But not all of it.
I’m also signing off from Friday Flow while we are away. Entry #90 will resume on Friday 22 September. Breaking the flow seems a bit lazy, but I think I need this break. I know you understand.
And no, I won’t be sharing much about this trip while we are away. Handy to not have social media accounts for that (nor the inclination tbh), but I may well bring you some highlights here at FF, but once we are back. Lucky you!
Please, if you have brilliant ideas for the OO - I am all ears and look forward to your replies (before Monday).
That is all for today. As always, I look forward to hearing what you heard, saw and felt when reading this.
With love,
Michelle xx