Use Your Vacation Time

Early in my career I took very little vacation time. I was so focused on getting ahead in my career that I was uncomfortable getting away. I now realize that was a mistake. I have come to find that vacations dramatically increase my productivity. The message is quite simple, use your vacation time.

Before you leave for vacation you clear out your inbox and take care of any outstanding tasks. This is a great exercise because we rarely take the opportunity to get completely caught up. Leaving work for a period of time forces you to do this.

Perspective—When we get caught up in the rat race we lose perspective. Getting away takes you out of the daily routine and helps you see the big picture more clearly. Getting away also helps you escape office drama, which is a major contributor to burn out in the workplace. In the end, vacations can prove to enhance your productivity and help you return to work with fresh ideas.

Staycations are not the answer. I find that when I take time off and stay at home, I don’t truly escape. I end up in the same routine only without the trips to the office. I find myself doing work from home. Those of us living in the U.S. have so little vacation time, why not maximize the experience by stepping away from your daily routine? Go somewhere! Even if you have to stay with a friend or relative, get out of your house.

Stagger your vacations throughout the year. If you only take one vacation, even if it’s a long one, you miss the opportunity to disconnect multiple times. I make it a point to get away at least one time per quarter.

Plan your vacations a year ahead of time. If you don’t block the time to get away, life takes over. As soon as I get my kid’s school calendar, I block all my vacation time for the entire year.

In an earlier blog I mentioned that my father has had severe cardio vascular disease since his 30’s. Nobody ever thought he’d survive long term. This December will mark his 80th birthday. He is convinced that the reason he is still here is because he always had a vacation planned. Once he planned the vacation, he had something to look forward to. It has always provided him a strong will to live.

If you don’t have a trip planned, take this opportunity to do it. The change in latitude may just provide the perspective that becomes the catalyst to take your career to the next level. Use your vacation time.