It’s the time of the year where things wind down at site and we have time to travel for camps and to visit other PCVs, right? Nevertheless, one thing is usually on my mind, how will I check my email and let people know that I can’t answer it while I’m away? It’s simple. I set up a “Vacation Notification” and then when I get an email, the person automatically is sent a message from me letting them know I’m gone.

Most email clients allow you to set up a vacation message. You usually can pick the dates and the message in advance. Here are the steps if you’re using Gmail:

Click the gear button in the top-right and choose “Settings.” In the “General” tab (which should be default if you open from your inbox) scroll down to the bottom. You have the option to turn the Vacation Responder on and off, set the dates for which it will run, choose a subject and a message, and decide whether everyone or only your contacts receive the notification. Make sure to save your changes at the bottom of the page when you’re done.

I find it’s the best etiquette to brag about how you’re off in some tropical land, sipping piña coladas on the beach while whoever is emailing you is stuck at work. You get the best responses that way.