You’re working hard and committed to building your career, but you’re probably trading off your vacation as a result—significant numbers of people forfeit their allotted days off. While your work ethic and responsibility are admirable, giving up your vacation may be contributing to burnout and detracting from your health, happiness and—ironically—your advancement.
With uncertainty about the economy and inflation—and news about layoffs and high-profile staff reductions, it’s natural to be especially careful about performing brilliantly and demonstrating dedication. But it’s also critical to realize that relaxation, rejuvenation and resets are critical to your wellbeing and success.
Sacrificing Vacation
Fully 46% of people take less time off than they are allowed, according to Pew Research. Even more concerning, 39% of U.S. workers report that they have not taken a vacation during the last 12 months. And those most likely to have lost out on vacation are the youngest workers and those with the lowest income, according to a poll by Eagle Hill Consulting.
When they do get away, 56% of employees are able to fully disconnect, but 27% say they continue to check work email and messages. And some people believe they don’t need time off at all—with 52% reporting they don’t need a vacation, based on the Pew Research.
Of course, it is rarely accurate that vacation isn’t necessary—and vacation mitigates burnout. Burnout usually accompanies depression and it is characterized by three classic experiences: feeling trapped—as if there’s nowhere to go in your organization; feeling cynical—with a negative or pessimistic lens; and feeling ineffective—as if nothing you do is done well enough.
Taking vacation can help with each of these.
Get Unstuck
A symptom of depression is feeling the world is closing in and likewise, burnout can give you the impression there is no place to go—feeling you’re stuck in your role or confined in your career. Vacation can help because it gets you away from the grind.
On a great vacation, you’re reminded of all that is outside of your work, and it can reinforce the importance of family, friends and all that life has to offer in addition to your work.
Also, when you have a sense of awe, it tends to contribute to your happiness, perspective and wellbeing. That sense of wonder is often most accessible during vacations in nature or with loved ones—on a mountain top, at the seashore or listening to the giggles of a child. It turns out when you feel small in relationship to experiences which are grand or meaningful, the perspective is helpful to your physical, cognitive and emotional wellness.
Take vacations so you can get out of your day-to-day and seek experiences in nature and with your people which remind you of what’s outside of yourself—expanding your horizons.
Improve Your Mood
Burnout is also characterized by feeling down, despondent and dejected—and vacation can help your mood. Fully 75% of people say vacation improves their mental health and 49% say it contributes to their physical health as well. It also increases their job satisfaction, according to a poll by Ceridian.
Research has shown a strong correlation between physical health and emotional health, and vacations can be the perfect link between the two. When you’re walking on the beach, hiking through the woods or doing a walking tour through a new city, these contribute to your physical health—and also your overall emotional and cognitive health. A poll by the Muse found that for 20% of people, exercise contributed to their brain health and wellbeing.
Other healthy habits also contribute positively to your condition. These include things like healthy eating (for 28% of people), leisure activities (20%) and going to bed early (14%), according to the Muse. All of these can be easier to accomplish when you’re on vacation.
Embrace new habits when you’re away from work, and feel the benefits of recovering from burnout.
Enhance Your Effectiveness
Vacation can also be a terrific antidote to the feelings of ineffectiveness which tend to come along with burnout. Unfortunately, people avoid vacations because of self-imposed pressure to stay on top of work (33% of people) and because of a heavy workload (29%), according to the Eagle Hill poll. And 49% worry they’ll fall behind if they take time off, based on data from Pew Research.
But when you get away, you actually enhance your capability and refresh your thinking. People in the Ceridian study (46% of them) reported taking a vacation improved their productivity. Concentration is enhanced when your mind is fresh, and creativity is heightened by exposure to diverse experiences. In addition, the learning necessary for the value you create is built through stimulating new moments.
If you’re chopping down a tree, the blade will get dull over time and the same effort won’t get you the same results. A vacation is an opportunity to sharpen up and bring back your edge. It’s time away from the task—which helps you get better outcomes, ultimately.
Consider Your Credibility
Of course, your employer is also a factor in your ability to take time away and truly disconnect. According to Pew Research, 19% thought taking time away from work would hurt their chances for advancement and 16% were worried about losing their job. Managers discouraged 12% of people from taking time off. And 43% were dissuaded from taking vacation because they didn’t want colleagues to have to take on additional work.
But consider that if you accomplish more overall and are more energized and positive about your work—as a result of getting away on vacation—these will contribute to your credibility and you advancement. In addition, when you get more done during work time, there will be less for co-workers to have to cover if you’re away.
Taking vacation also sends positive messages that you value your wellbeing and that of others. It tells people you’re on top of your work and that you trust those around you to fill in for you—and you’ll do the same for them when they take off. Instead of being negative, these are positive connotations of taking vacation.
You can also be selective about the organization you choose to work for. If your culture fails to value wellbeing and balks at your need to get away, you can give thought to whether another company would be a better fit for your health and your values. There’s a lot that goes into your happiness at work and your ability to truly take time off is one criterion.
Break With Burnout
Continue to invest in doing great work, because performing brilliantly contributes to your esteem and happiness. But also recognize taking a vacation is an important way to recover from burnout—or avoid it in the first place.
Take time away and know that relaxing and rejuvenating will be good for you personally, but also good for your overall performance and satisfaction.
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