The weather is warm, the kids are out of school, and the time is ripe for that summer vacation you’ve dreamed about all year long . . . a chance to really leave the office. And that is so hard to do these days. Most of us work while we’re on vacation, and just about all of us return to a backlog so nightmarish, the very thought of it keeps one-third of all workers from even taking vacation.

Vacations are important to stay healthy and refreshed. And that means totally disconnecting from work when you’re away. The office will function without you! (It may not function as well, but trust us, the company will not collapse in two weeks.) The key is to deploy your colleagues as your informed backup squad. And you can do that before you leave by:

• Creating a backup plan. Forget the idea of a planned vacation for a moment; if you were struck with a medical emergency, could your coworkers jump in and take care of your critical duties? They first need to know your responsibilities and deadlines, and that happens best through a desk manual. Make a thorough list of your responsibilities, both in categories (“Process purchase reqs, audit monthly procurement card statements…”) and in recurring meetings and deadlines (“Second Tuesdays, 10 a.m.: Round Table Meeting,” “June 1: Bid FY16 expiring contracts”). Talk with your boss about delegating duties in your absence, including who might be good to take on which roles.
• Cross-training. Once you and your boss choose who will be responsible for what duties, meet with each member of your backup squad. Run them through exactly what they’ll be doing while you’re away. (It may help to prepare a sheet of notes, so they can better concentrate on watching instead of writing.) Put someone in charge of your email inbox, and share how to handle routine inquiries. Identify any matter that may constitute an emergency.
• Designate one point of contact. No matter how well you prepare your squad to cover your desk, emergencies can happen. Designate one coworker as your point person, and tell that person how you can be reached while you’re away. That way, you’ll know whose information to look for in the rare event your input is required.
• Debrief when you return. Debriefing is important every time you go away, but critically important that first time. How did your backup squad feel about the process? What went well, what do they need more training to do, and what outright fell through the cracks? Build on the notes you created before you left, and modify your desk manual with anything you might have forgotten.

With a little planning and a lot of confidence, you’ll be setting off on a blissful, work-free vacation this summer!