I am preparing for vacation and asked a few friends for book recommendations. I wanted something fun (and dare I say trashy) that I wouldn’t be humiliated to be seen with reading at the pool or beach.
A friend of mine recommended Eat, Pray, Love, a book that I love (not so much the movie), but already read. All of this got me thinking about taking paid time off (PTO) and the overwhelming guilt we feel taking time for ourselves.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where people fear taking paid time off. A recent survey from the U.S. Travel Association reported that 41% of American workers do not plan to use all of their PTO despite it being part of their work compensation plan. Yet, of those surveyed, 96% recognized the importance of taking time off.
Why can’t we relax and enjoy some well-deserved recharging time?
We know that taking vacation time helps reduce stress and has benefits for our physical and mental well-being. It has been proven that when people take a break from the daily grind, their health improves, resulting in lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and an increased sense of well-being.
Those who understand the importance certainly take breaks frequently. Those who cannot plan a vacation at least engage themselves with camping or a road trip. The exhilaration of a spontaneous trip could help you break away from the mundane routines of everyday life. When going on such trips, you could utilize a full-sized or even a rooftop tent for a weekend getaway and ensure a relatively comfortable stay. That way, you could save money by not going on an expensive trip and have a taste of the wilderness to refresh your mind and body.
Needless to say, after a vacation or recreation, our brain becomes recharged and refreshed to return to the office again and ready to face all the challenges of the coming days. By indulging in activities that make you feel relaxed, you can let go of work-related stress, anxiety, and all other worries. You can consider taking a vacation, going clubbing with friends, or having a glass of wine for de-stressing. The choice completely relies on what type of recreation comforts you. But now the question is, how do you feel less guilty about your time away and make things easier for your colleagues while you’re gone?
Here are a few tips I found worked for me:
- Baby steps – instead of a weeklong vacation, try long weekends. Who doesn’t love a 3 or 4-day weekend? Once you have a habit of enjoying free time during short vacations, you can even plan a workcation during which you can explore your travel destination and manage work. If interested, you can also consider investing in a vacation home by exploring villas for sale in Abu Dhabi if you plan to take regular breaks.
- Plan ahead—make sure you send a reminder to your team that you will be out of the office (OOTO) a week before leaving. Try to schedule your leave during a slow time, or when you know, there are no looming deadlines.
- Complete your list – get all your work done before you leave, and make sure you have a POC to answer any questions or issues while you are away.
- Shut down—avoid checking your phone and email while you are OOTO. I know this will be the hardest to do (and I can’t say I even do this myself), but I promise the office won’t fall apart without you checking your email every five minutes.
I know I need to take my advice and relax, but I am a work in progress. So, I vow to feel less guilty while sitting on the beach reading my (trashy) books and trust that my colleagues will keep the lights on.