Email closers are important. You should try to sign an email off as politely and professionally as possible to keep things friendly.
That’s where “take care” comes in. But you might be looking for an alternative to mix things up.
Luckily, this article is here to help! We’ve gathered some alternatives showing you how to say “take care” at work.
Is It Professional to Say “Take Care”?
It is professional to say “take care” in an email. It’s quite a common choice to include as an email closer because it shows that you care about the recipient and want them to look after themselves.
Generally, you can’t say it to your boss. It might be seen as a bit flippant or dismissive. We prefer it when emailing employees or coworkers (people who don’t rank higher than you).
You can refer to this email sample to see how it works:
Dear Addison,
Thank you for completing this task for me.
Take care,
Max Lopez
Pros
- It’s a polite way to end an email.
- It’s professional as an email closer.
Cons
- It’s a bit dismissive when directed at a superior.
- It’s fairly generic, making it a bit bland and impersonal.
You can use “take care” as a formal email closer, but there are other ways to say goodbye. We recommend exploring some alternatives to keep things interesting.
Keep reading to learn what to say instead of “take care.” We’ve also provided email examples to help with each synonym.
What to Say Instead of “Take Care”
- Best wishes
- Look after yourself
- Stay well
- Be safe
- All the best
- Stay healthy
- Wishing you the best
- I wish you well
- Warmest regards
- Stay out of trouble
1. Best Wishes
When people leave the office, it’s hard to know the best ways to say goodbye. You can stick with “take care,” but it’s a bit bland.
That’s where “best wishes” comes in. It’s a kind and caring alternative. You can use it when someone leaves the office (i.e., if they’re going on maternity leave).
We recommend including it when emailing coworkers. It shows how much you care about them and that you hope they don’t get into any trouble while they’re away.
You can also review this example:
Dear Carla,
I hope you take care of yourself while you’re away. It’s going to feel weird without you around the office.
Best wishes,
Bradley Tyler
2. Look After Yourself
When someone is sick, you should offer words of encouragement. Something like “look after yourself” works well here as another way to say “take care” at the end of an email.
We recommend using it when emailing employees who emailed in sick. It shows that you want them to recover quickly because you wouldn’t wish their sickness on anyone.
It’s certainly a good professional choice. Most people use it when they’re trying to sound more friendly to the recipient.
Here’s an email sample to help you with it:
Dear Adrian,
I hope you’re not out of the office for too long. Of course, this is a horrible problem to have, and I hope you recover.
Look after yourself,
Jon Mercury
3. Stay Well
Another way to say “take care” is “stay well.” It works as a formal email closer, showing you how to say “take care” in an email.
We recommend using it when emailing coworkers. If they’re taking some time off work, it’s good to use a phrase like this at the end of a reply email to show that you’re behind them.
While they might be sick (hence needing time off work), this is a great way to show solidarity. It implies that you’re on their side and hope they recover quickly.
This sample email should also clarify some things:
Dear Charlotte,
It’s important to stay on top of your health. That’s why I know this is the right call for you to make.
Stay well,
Greg Marten
4. Be Safe
Another great option showing you how to say “take care” in an email is “be safe.” We recommend using this if you care about the recipient in a more friendly way.
For instance, it’s a good choice when emailing colleagues. It shows you value them as teammates and want to treat them the same way you’d like to be treated.
Of course, this makes it a very useful phrase to use in more respectful situations.
If you’re still stumped, review the following example:
Dear Charles,
I appreciate you coming to me with this information. I hope you figure out a good solution while you’re away.
Be safe,
Melissa Grace
5. All the Best
You really can’t beat “all the best” at the end of an email. It’s one of the most versatile choices to close and email with.
It can mean “good luck,” “take care,” or simply “farewell.” In this case, we want to focus on how to say “take care” formally with “all the best.”
So, you can use it to show that you’re offering your best wishes to someone. It’s great to include if you truly respect the recipient and want them to know that.
Here’s a great email sample to help you with it:
Dear Miss Blank,
Thank you so much for coming to me to let me know. I appreciate what you’re saying and hope you have a good time.
All the best,
Ben Bradford
6. Stay Healthy
You should find “stay healthy” quite valuable for professional emails. It shows you’re interested in someone’s health (even if they’re well and have no ailments).
It’s a great choice in more friendly cases. It shows you’d like the recipient to treat themselves well, which implies you care about them more than most people you might email at work.
Feel free to use it when you’re interested in developing a better relationship. It’s good to use when colleagues trust you with some of the changes they’re making in their life.
Also, this example should clear a few things up:
Dear Stacey,
This isn’t going to be an easy transition. However, I hope it’s everything you’ve been looking for in a job.
Stay healthy,
Freya Milkova
7. Wishing You the Best
You will benefit from saying “wishing you the best” in your formal emails. It’s a great option that comes in two varieties.
You can use either of these options:
- I wish you the best
- Wishing you the best
Of course, using “I wish” is slightly more personal. After all, it uses the personal pronoun “I” to show how much you care about the recipient.
“Wishing you the best” therefore makes more sense in professional emails. Sure, it’s more impersonal, but it’s highly effective when emailing clients you want to show respect to.
We also recommend reviewing this example:
Dear Mr. Kingston,
This is a big step for you. I’m very excited to hear how you fit in with your new team.
Wishing you the best,
Ben Further
8. I Wish You Well
Let’s go for a more simple option as we get through this list. “I wish you well” is a great alternative to “take care.”
It shows you want the best for the recipient. It’s highly effective as a more friendly yet respectful phrase.
Try it when emailing former employees. Whether you asked them to leave or they left on their own accord, this is a great way to remain civil with former employees who are moving on.
Here’s a great email example to help you with it:
Dear Stuart,
Thank you for reaching out to discuss this. It’s going to be a good step in the right direction for you.
I wish you well,
Maria Jenkins
9. Warmest Regards
“Warmest regards” is just one example of the many “regards” options available. You can use “regards” as a formal email closer instead of saying “take care.”
Of course, it’s slightly more general. It isn’t quite as specific as “take care,” as it doesn’t directly show that you care about the recipient.
However, including “warmest” is a great way to make it more friendly. It shows you want to provide warm consideration to the recipient.
You should also review the following sample email:
Dear Daniel,
I hope you don’t put too much pressure on yourself here. It’s not worth losing your job over, after all.
Warmest regards,
Dana O’Brien
10. Stay Out of Trouble
It’s worth using “stay out of trouble” as an alternative to “take care.” It’s a great choice because it shows you care about what someone does.
Generally, this is a friendly farewell. It might not work as well in professional emails, but it still works when emailing colleagues you get along well with.
It’s a good choice because it shows you’d like them to take care of themselves. It encourages them to avoid getting into too much trouble that might negatively affect their life.
This email example should clear some things up:
Dear Jessica,
This is going to be a great chance for you to learn more about yourself. I can’t wait to hear how you get on.
Stay out of trouble,
Carl North
Related posts:
- 10 Formal Ways to Say “Please Let Me Know Your Thoughts”
- 9 Other Ways to Say “Well Received” in an Email
- 10 Other Ways to Say “Thank You for the Clarification”
- 9 Other Ways to Say “Per Your Request” in an Email