Disconnecting from your job while on vacation "sounds a lot easier than it actually is." Writing for the  Harvard Business Review, certified career coach and strategist Marlo Lyons offers five tips to set boundaries that allow you to actually "detach from work during your vacation."

Research suggests that completely disconnecting from work during vacations "is critical to lowering burnout, increasing energy and engagement, and improving overall health and well-being" — but some companies expect you "to stay connected, respond to emails, or attend meetings to keep the business moving forward," Lyons writes.

1. Outline your plan

After your time off is approved, clearly explain to your manager that you will not be available during your vacation. You do not need to disclose how you'll be spending your time off, but Lyons suggests taking time to explain "how the time off will benefit the business upon your return."

"This conversation should also include a plan for your manager or colleagues to cover your absence," she writes. "Prepare this plan in a document, especially if you're taking a long vacation."

Lyons recommends outlining the emergency contacts for specific issues and naming the people who will complete necessary tasks. Then, she recommends asking your manager if there is any additional information they need before you go on vacation.

"The more you collaborate with them to prepare for vacation, the less stressed they'll be about coverage — and the more likely you'll be to enjoy your time off uninterrupted," Lyons notes.

2. Mark the calendar

Instead of simply submitting your vacation request to your company's tracking system, Lyons suggests sending an "all-day" invitation to your manager, team members, and cross-functional stakeholders once it is approved.

Even after your time off is approved, "your manager isn't going to remember when your vacation is weeks or months later. And your cross-functional partners won't know you're out of the office until your autoresponder kicks back to them when they try to reach you," Lyons writes.

Sending a reminder to your colleagues "will allow them to prepare for you being unreachable and communicate any needs prior to your departure," she notes.

3. Notify meeting organizers

Before you go on vacation, notify the people who organize any standing meetings you will not be able to attend and ask if they need anything from you. In addition, ask the organizer to send you notes or a recording of the meeting so you don't miss key information.

"This shows you're responsible to your partners and gives you an opportunity to inform them that you won't be available or present," Lyons writes.

4. Leave a detailed out-of-office message

Most employees arrange for someone to take over their work or respond to emergencies when they are not in the office. "It's critical to be clear in your out-of-office [(OOO)] autoresponder who will be available in your absence," Lyons writes.

According to Lyons, you need to ensure that the wording in your OOO message "is firm but professional." Typically, people will expect a response if you have a soft message, saying you'll have limited access to emails or you'll be "slow to respond." Your OOO notification "should state that you'll have no access to email and will not be reachable until you return on [X] date," Lyons notes.

"Align with your manager regarding who should be contacted for an emergency and who will handle other important but non-urgent inquiries," she writes. "Include contact information for each person who will be responding to any inquiries on your behalf while you're away."

Be sure to change your status and provide a detailed OOO notification for every communication channel you use, including Slack, Zoom chat, or Microsoft Teams Chat.

5. Send a reminder

The week before you go on vacation, Lyons recommends sending an email to your manager, team members, and cross-functional stakeholders reminding them of your vacation dates.

Once again, she suggests reminding your colleagues that you will not be available and will not be responding to any calls or emails. "This type of reminder demonstrates your proactive professionalism and understanding that the business continues while you're gone," Lyons writes. "It will also help reduce any unaddressed issues you'll need to deal with when you return."

According to Lyons, your "[c]olleagues will respect you for setting clear boundaries when you're on vacation and for being proactive beforehand to ensure they're set up for success."

However, once you set clear boundaries, you must uphold them — "don't read texts or emails, because once you open the work door, it's nearly impossible to shut it again," Lyons adds. (Lyons, Harvard Business Review, 5/19)