The Out-of-Office Template You Need When You’re Only Taking One Day Off

Updated 6/19/2020

person on computer — Hero Images/Getty Images

Here's the perfect out-of-office message for when you're only taking one day off and really want to unplug—whether on your own or because of a major holiday.

Even if you have a job you love, there are few things more satisfying than turning on an out-of-office email responder—especially when it’s for an actual vacation. There’s some serious relaxation in your future, and it’s well-deserved.

But what if you’re only taking one day? Sometimes, it might seem silly to bother with an OOO for such a short amount of time—especially if it’s a day that a lot of other people are taking off (such as a national holiday).

However, that’s the wrong mindset for two reasons:

1. If people do need you to get back to them urgently, they’ll think they’re being ignored. (Even if you define “urgently” differently.)

2. And, if there’s a chance of an emergency landing in your inbox, it’ll be that much harder for you to unplug because you’ll just keep “checking in.”

So, because I want you to be able to enjoy your time off, I’ve put together these two email templates to help you make it abundantly clear that you’re not around for the next 24 hours.

Hi there,

Thanks so much for your email. I’ve decided to take advantage of the holiday weekend and truly take [Monday/Friday] off. In an effort to come back fully recharged, I won’t be checking my email. Don’t worry though, if it’s urgent, you can reach out to [Name] at [email address].

I’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as possible when I’m back in the office.

[Your Name]

Or

Hi,

Thanks so much for your email. I took today off to [rest/relax/travel/spend time with family]. In an effort to come back fully recharged, I won’t be spending today with my phone attached to my hand. (Scary, I know.) Don’t worry though because I will be checking in every so often and responding to anything urgent.

Fingers crossed nothing urgent pops up,
[Your Name]

And there you go—two samples that you can mix and match as needed.

Of course, if you’re expecting something (or someone) urgent to pop into your inbox, send them a separate note with your personal email or phone number. Alternatively, you can also just make sure whoever your go-to contact is has that information in case you do need to be reached. Once you handle that, you can do what your OOO says you’re doing and actually spend the day recharging.

Really! You deserve it.

Richard Moy is a Content Marketing Writer at Stack Overflow. He has spent the majority of his career in talent management, including a stint as a full-cycle recruiter and hiring manager. In addition to the career advice he contributes to The Muse, he also writes test prep and higher education marketing content for The Economist. Say hi on Twitter @rich_moy or follow his blog.