It’s February 10. Summer will be here in 4 months. Have you planned your summer vacation? If so, you can stop reading. If not, then you are exactly who I’m talking to.

This is the time to get moving on your vacation. It’s so much easier to clear a week or two on your calendar now than it will be in June or July. In fact, if you wait until June to plan a summer vacation there’s a very good chance that you won’t end up going.

Here’s what I’d like you to do –

1. Pick a week, or even better, two weeks. Consult the calendars of everyone in your home that needs to come along with you. Make sure you’ve got a workable week. Put it on your calendar.

2. Decide on a destination. Don’t get overwhelmed by the options. Give yourself a deadline and pick a spot. This isn’t rocket science.

3. Book the air. If you were thinking about driving, don’t. Fly somewhere. The best spots require a plane ride. Pay for the airfare now, that helps to psychologically lock you in.

4. Book the accommodations. I’m fascinated by AirBNB. Check it out as a hotel alternative. Usually, you won’t have to pay for the hotel until you check out. Worst case, you’ll make a deposit now. This helps with cash flow.

5. If you’re a solo practitioner go ahead and make arrangements for another lawyer to cover your emergencies. It’s easier to get someone to agree to do this for you now than it will be two weeks before the trip. People will easily agree to something months away that they won’t do at the last-minute. Go ahead and send this lawyer a gift, now, and say thanks to really seal the deal. If you’re in a firm, go ahead and alert the appropriate people that you’ll be gone.

6. Take whatever steps are required, if possible, to prevent opposing counsel from scheduling court dates during your vacation. In our jurisdiction, we have a court policy allowing us to designate periods as “protected leave.”

7. Start the process of preparing a notice to clients that you’ll be out-of-town and unreachable. Go ahead and have a letter and an email list underway so you can send it about 4 weeks before you go.

You’re good to go. You’ll likely notice a spring in your step as you get excited about the upcoming trip. You’ll also have something pleasant to think about as you listen to a whining client on the phone.

Now is the time to book the trip. Do it, do it, do it. You can thank me when you get back.