Have you scheduled your vacation yet? It’s never too late because taking time off can happen at any time of the year. So if you haven’t done it yet, take a couple of minutes and look at your calendar and block out that time.
I am notorious for not vacationing, but after a year or two of that, I realized that it was not only unfair to my family, but to myself. How about you? Does the opportunity always seem to come and go and nothing gets done? Here is something that has worked for me and maybe it can work for you:
-
Pick a week (or two) on your calendar where not a lot is going on yet. You might have to look a few months ahead of time.
-
Give that time frame to your spouse, partner, family member, friend, or travel agent, and have them plan it. They can pick the location or you can.
-
Show up and completely unplug. If you didn’t forget a password or two that is okay, because you are going to make this a habit and you can try again.
Why is vacationing important? I’ll make this quick:
-
55% of people don’t take off the time that they are entitled to by their employer.* So basically, you are working for less money because they are getting 2+ weeks of free work from you.
-
You are 80% more productive if you take your breaks*. Humans are simply more productive when rested. (This is the one I liked because I do love feeling productive.)
-
If you are working from home you are still working. It may feel a little different, but you need to escape that too if you can. This is an easy way to get caught not taking that well-deserved break.
So where does it say that vacationing is bad? Gentle reader, it is all in your head. I know because I spent a lot of time in my head and ultimately I found out that not only did I have an amazing team to cover my absences, I DID feel a LOT better and more productive when I returned. You are not just treating yourself but you are helping the entire company!
Worried about coverage? Sorry, this is no longer an excuse because if you have a great team, they cover you and you cover them. You can also get a temp in to cover just enough so you don’t have a huge pile when you get back. (Remember, if it is marketing help you need, contact us at Portfolio Creative.)
Let’s make a vacation pact. Out of Office for Real! We can do this …without guilt. This year, we vacation! I’ll grab the sunscreen.
*Resource = Working Smarter
