1. A method implemented in a device that executes a recording scheduler, the method comprising: scheduling recordings of media assets according to a standard profile that includes a priority list of the media assets to be recorded; designating when one or more of the media assets of the priority list are to be deleted while the standard mode of the digital video recorder is enabled; initiating a user interface for display from which a vacation mode can be enabled to manage recordings of a subset of the media assets when a digital video recorder is likely to be unattended for a duration that is associated with a vacation; enabling the vacation mode to activate a vacation profile that includes a vacation priority list of the subset of the media assets; designating when one or more of the subset of media assets of the vacation priority list are to be deleted while the vacation mode is enabled, the designation of when to delete the media asset being different if recorded while the standard mode is enabled; and disabling the vacation mode to reactivate the standard profile after detecting a device input that indicates the digital video recorder is not unattended.