Wk33-Create a Weekend Out-of-office Email

Setting Boundaries

Sorry we're closed signage hanged on glass door

This week, we’re focusing on an important aspect of work-life balance. Keeping your weekends off limits to clients.

Habit of the week:

Wk33-Create a Weekend Out-of-office Email

With devices keeping us connected at all times, it's important to set clear boundaries with clients. One effective way to do this is by using the vacation settings in your email program to activate an out-of-office message each weekend.

Why it matters:

Clients often send messages over the weekend without considering the recipient's personal time. They're usually just ticking tasks off their to-do list. By setting up a weekend out-of-office message, you're not only protecting your personal time but also training your clients about your availability, reducing the likelihood of weekend requests.

Quick Start Guide:

Here’s how to find and set up vacation settings in the two most popular email programs:

Gmail: Go to Settings > See all settings > General. Scroll down to find the Vacation responder.
Outlook: Go to File > Automatic Replies. You can then set your automatic reply for the weekend period.
Apple Mail (for macOS): Open Mail, then choose Mail > Preferences. Click on 'Rules' tab. Click 'Add Rule', then set the conditions to trigger the automatic reply during weekends. In the actions, choose 'Reply to Message' and type your out-of-office message. Ensure you activate this rule each Friday and deactivate it on Monday.

Cami's Tips

Here's my latest weekend email as an example:

Thanks for your message. I’m closed each weekend from Friday at 4pm until Monday at 9am.

If this is an emergency—meaning your website is down—please text me at 206-550-7720.

For regular requests, please email me and I’ll respond during business hours next week.

Have a great weekend!

Gmail doesn't allow me to make a rule for this, so I put a reminder on my calendar on Fridays so I remember to set it before I leave the office.

Routine Checkpoint:

Remember, setting boundaries is key to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Give the weekend out-of-office message a try!

If you've never set a weekend out-of-office message before, give it a try this coming weekend. Notice any changes in your stress levels or work-life balance. If you're already practicing this, consider creating more out-of-office email templates for upcoming vacations or three-day weekends that you can reuse later.

What's Your Take?

Have you tried setting a weekend out-of-office message? How has it impacted your work-life balance and client interactions?

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Posted in Balance & Mindset, On-Demand

about the author

Cami MacNamara is a web designer and owner of WebCami LLC, a Seattle-based agency since 2002. She created Web Designer Habits to help solopreneurs build smarter systems, stay productive, and run a business that works for them.