Summer typically means taking more time off and enjoying the benefits of the warmer weather. But many leaders I know struggle to truly take time away from work. They may be “out of the office” but they’re constantly checking email, or their out-of-office message says “I’m on vacation but if you need me here’s my cell.” Which is basically an invitation for people to call you and for you to not be on vacation.
Yes, in our “always-on” culture it can be hard to disengage and truly disconnect. And yes, situations come up that you personally need to handle. Just because it’s summer, doesn’t mean that work stops, or that deadlines suddenly evaporate into thin air.
And yet the research is clear. Giving yourself a reprieve from work is good for your brain, your body, your spirit, and your interpersonal relationships (especially spousal relationships, speaking from personal experience…) Burnout is real! Take a vacation and you’ll come back to work with renewed energy and a different perspective.
How to take time off:
- Make a commitment – to yourself, to your family – and mark your calendar as being “out of office” so people don’t schedule you for meetings
- Prep your team and colleagues for your absence and put plans in place for anything that might need attention while you’re gone
- Turn on your “out of office” and trust that your colleagues have you covered. And since you’re creating an OOO anyway, why not create a fun out-of-office message?
- Don’t check email while you’re off (see above, trust your colleagues). The more you respond, the more people expect you to respond, and then you’re not really on vacation.
Still not convinced? Here are a few resources you might enjoy.
Serious Leaders Need Self-Care
How To Use All Your Vacation & Really Unplug (28 min audio file + transcript)
