How to Disconnect from Microsoft Apps This Holiday Season

Ah, the holidays—a time for unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive treats, and of course, evading work emails with a vengeance. But let’s be real here, unshackling ourselves from our Microsoft-driven workflows isn’t as simple as slamming the laptop shut. Between pesky notifications from Teams and Outlook, and the muscle memory that instinctively opens OneDrive, staying disconnected can feel like a herculean task.
Fear not. Here’s a detailed guide to shutting down your work brain while ensuring those Microsoft applications don’t crash your Christmas movie marathons.

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1. Disable OneDrive Notifications: Banish the Unwanted Pings​

You’d think OneDrive would take a holiday too, but no—this diligent assistant insists on nudging you even when you don’t care. Whether it’s sharing updates, “On This Day” nostalgia, or bizarrely-timed document edits, it's a distraction not worthy of your attention when mulled wine is on deck.
Here’s how to mute OneDrive for good:

• Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray.
• Select Settings.
• Navigate to the Notifications section.
• Toggle all those settings to “Off.”

Imagine it: no bing-bongs during dinner, and no accidental guilt for ignoring a shared file. Just remember to toggle everything back to life when you return in January. I doubt your boss will accept, “I forgot to turn OneDrive back on” as a valid excuse.

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2. Turn Off Teams Notifications: Leave Work Chatter at the Office​

If you think muting Teams stops Kevin from sending you a “quick question” at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, well, it almost does. Microsoft Teams is notorious for sneaky notifications during downtime.
To completely silence Teams:

• Open the Teams app, click the three dots near your profile picture.
• Go to Settings > Notifications And Activity.
• Enable Mute All Notifications (Except For Calls And Meetings)—though let’s be honest, no one should be calling either.
• Dive into specific sections like "Chat Message Notifications" and "Meeting Notifications"—and turn every dropdown to Off.
• Update your status as “Appear Offline” and, for bonus points, whip up a status message like “Out for the holidays, back to ruining spreadsheets on [insert date here].”

Peace at last. Teams shall vibrate no more.

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3. Set Up Your Out-of-Office in Outlook: The Digital ‘Do Not Disturb’ Sign​

Ah, the liberation of an Out-of-Office email—second only to cookies for instant gratification. Whether you’re drowning in festivities or just watching Hallmark movies on loop, clear email replies are a game-changer when someone decides to “just follow up real quick.”
For Outlook on Windows 11 users:

• Click the Settings cog in the top-right corner.
• Go to Accounts > Automatic Replies.
• Turn on Automatic Replies, set both the start and end date, and compose your message.

Pro Tip:​

You get extra karma points for writing polite out-of-office notes. Something like:
“Happy Holidays! I’m away enjoying time with family and will get back to you after [date]. If urgent, you might want to send a carrier pigeon because I won’t be checking emails. Cheers!”
Outlook will take it from there, keeping you blissfully unaware of unanswered client inquiries.

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4. Schedule Those January Emails Now: Pre-Holiday Prep Like a Pro​

Nothing dampens holiday spirit faster than remembering that huge email you should’ve sent before heading off. Fortunately, scheduling emails lets you clear your queue long before Santa hits the chimney.
Here’s how to schedule emails with Microsoft’s newer, refined Outlook (hallelujah for modern efficiency):

• Compose your email as usual.
• Next to the Send button, click the dropdown and select Schedule Send.
• Choose between the recommended times or set a Custom Time that screams “Look how responsible I am!”

Your drafts folder will house pre-scheduled emails until it’s time to release them into the wild. Consider batching your post-holiday commitments now, so when the New Year bloops arrive, you’re sipping eggnog instead of panicking over deadlines.

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5. Ditch the Microsoft Apps on Mobile: Avoid Muscle Memory Mishaps​

You know the drill—you casually pick up your phone to play Candy Crush, but before you know it, you’re 20 minutes deep into a shared Word document. Blame muscle memory…or maybe mild self-sabotage. Either way, uninstalling (yes, uninstalling) productivity apps from your mobile devices is a foolproof way to preserve your precious downtime.
Don’t worry, deleting Teams or Outlook from your phone:

• Doesn’t remove any actual files.
• Doesn’t send a bat signal to your IT department.
• Can be reversed easily—just reinstall later!

How to do it:

• On iOS or Android, long-press the app you want to delete.
• Tap Remove App (iOS) or Uninstall (Android).
• Confirm the deletion.

Worried about reinstallation? Simply redownload from the App Store/Google Play store once work mode resumes. Until then, let your muscle memory steer you toward cozy holiday naps instead of work updates.

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Optional Bonus: How About Automating Your Christmas Lights?​

Okay, so this one’s not technically Microsoft-related, but since we’re on the topic of automation, why not extend that thinking to your home décor? Use smart plugs or assistants like Cortana (yes, she still exists) to automate your holiday lights or decorations. With one less thing to flick on or off, you’ll have MORE time to relax and sip hot cocoa.

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Wrapping Up (Pun Intended)​

Taking a break from work during the holidays is essential—not just for your sanity but so you can come back with a refreshed mindset. By disabling OneDrive, muting Teams, and giving Outlook a vacation of its own, you’ll create a work barricade stronger than the North Pole workshop.
So, go ahead. Reclaim your holidays. Watch Netflix without popup distractions, feast on cookies without fretting over unread emails, and remember—work will (unfortunately) still be there come January. Let Future You deal with that.
Happy holidaying!

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Source: How-To Geek 5 Ways to Switch Off From Your Microsoft Work This Holiday