He was bragging, of course, proud that he used next to nothing from his vacation balance and excited to get the payout for the unused hours at the end of the year. My question was confronting, and for a half of a second, I felt bad for asking it.
“At what cost?”
Then the half-second passed, and my question lingered.
“Cost? It’s a gain. That money is great to have at the end of the year. Santa isn’t free and…”
I admit it. I stopped listening for a moment. Instead, I studied his features for a tell, a sign that he knew that he was selling himself a story, and more than willing to buy it.
If I were a betting woman, I’d say that the truth wasn’t about cash flow but career fears.
Common career fears when people say no to using vacation time:
What if I’m easily replaceable?
How will I deal with the pile of work that will greet me once I’m back in the office?
My team needs me and will struggle without me.
For solopreneurs, the additional fears include:
If I disappear, my customers will forget about me.
There is no one else to do the work; my business will not survive the hit.
People will think I closed the business.
Fear can be debilitating and stop you in your tracks. Remember, these are stories. Don’t like ’em, create another one that gives you the space to breathe and recover from your hard work instead of tethering you to the office.
Fresh off one of my longer breaks, here’s what I know is true:
Time off to relax and recharge is time well spent.
You can check in without checking out of where you are.
Breathing isn’t overrated.
Hamster wheels are not human wheels for a reason.
Back from my adventures and remotely over the jet lag, I’ve returned not with a tan or a suitcase full from shopping, but with a fresh perspective.
10 Ways a Break Makes You Better
The next time you tell yourself that a long weekend is as good as it’s going to get, take a beat and remind yourself of the upside to a meaningful break.
It may feel stressful to take the time away but I promise, a break makes you better and the people around you will be grateful too.
1. Life is about experiences and creating memories that matter. While you may have great successes at the office, consider what’s in your photo albums. The ones you’ll flip through years from now. Bet it’s not filled with photos of your laptop and phone screens.
2. A full life makes you a happier human than a busy life. Full means multi-faceted. Take a break to do what you love and remember why you love it.
3. When you’re dealing with a big issue and put all of your energy towards solving it, sometimes the only way to unravel it is to let your brain take a break from the problem. Time away may be just what you need to have the aha moment you’re craving.
4. When everything is bothering you, and you’re hypersensitive to everyone around you, a break gives you time, space and distance. Maybe it was about them, and maybe, just maybe, it’s about the way you’ve been reacting that’s been escalating the problem.
5. They say “absence makes the heart grow fonder” for a reason.
6. When you’re away, you get to show your team that you trust them and let them step up to lead too. That’s the core of leadership – it’s a win-win.
7. You have the time to unlearn bad behaviors. If every time your fingers linger over your phone or keyboard you’re on Twitter, Facebook, or email, you can learn to manage the urge and return to moderation.
8. Time spent with the people who love you beyond dueling laptops in the evening or wolfing down dinner is time well spent. It’s fuel for the present and the future.
9. You set the tone. Never take time off? The people who work for you think that they can’t either. It’s essential to create a culture where self-care is valued, and you lead the way.
10. We are living in an era when everyone is chasing happiness. You know, work hard so you can buy the toys and life that make others salivate when they see the pictures. It’s part of playing the game of “See? I’m a success.” A break reminds you that while you stop the chase, happiness is here for you, right this moment. Embrace it.
“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” ~ Guillaume Apollinaire
When was the last time you took time away from your work? What did you learn in the process?
Your timing, and travel, are in sync or so it seems as this speaks to so many in what I call the work a day world. I started early on taking breaks, time away and it became a “normal” part of my weekly, monthly and yearly calendar. Now, some people think I am on a permanent break. When they say, “How was your weekend?” my response, yes, somewhat smart-ass, is, “Why, is it over?” I have the luxury of working only when I choose to do so, and the majority of my time is spent in whatever moves my spirit whether travel, writing, reading, walking, fishing, rabble-rousing, you name it. I probably spend a little too much time on social media which could be more productive invested elsewhere, but hey, it’s my time and I can use it however I choose, sometimes in the interests of what others seem to need. Bottom line is it’s about time and how we wish to invest it toward what we want to realize. It’s really all connected to a much larger purpose in my world but that’s another story for another time. Welcome back!
Since my first job I’ve used aall of my time off. In later years, when I started new jobs, the primary thing I negotiated was vacation time. Now, like you, I have more flexbility than ever and the value of time off is deeply ingrained. I’m grateful that my husband, my partner, has generous PTO time and a similiar attitude. How wonderful is it that you can choose how you live and spend your time. A goal for many and you’re leading the way!
Alli
I love all your points about the importance of taking a vacation. When you think about it we shouldn’t be justifying a vacation. It is essential to rejuvenate and recalibrate! Taking time away to have experiences with our families and friends is part of leading . I need to separate my professional world from my personal world to get perspective. Thanks Alli for reminding us to breathe and take time away! Will share today!
I’m with you! Vacation time is essential to be and do our best. Giving ourselves mental and physical breaks from the routine enable us to grow in other ways. It’s kind of like at the gym, you don’t do leg day every day but need time off to repair the muscle and let it get stronger. Perspective is priceless, isn’t it?
Thanks, Terri!
Alli