The Benefits of Taking Time Off

As sunny summer days greet us and opportunities to recharge are around every corner, it may be time to take a much-needed vacation. The benefits of a planned break are numerous; covered in more detail thanks to research from U.S. Travel Association’s Project: Time Off, as well as many others.

If you are in a position of company leadership, you may be surprised to learn the biggest culprit for employees leaving vacation days on the table is a perceived lack of support from their supervisor. This may come in the form of a lack of communication around paid time off. Opening the lines of communication regarding unused days and letting teammates know the company policy around PTO can make a big difference. Don’t forget to practice what you preach by being proactive about your time away as well.

What you’ll gain by taking time away from the office:

Improved Energy Levels

If you notice your motivation has taken a dip, or you are not feeling as excited to embrace the day in the office, this may signal your energy levels are depleted. This WebMD article points out a few helpful places to start. If you are in tune with yourself, you will usually know when a vacation is overdue. Coming back to the workplace with more enthusiasm will have a ripple effect.

Fresh Outlook

Many “aha!” moments and business ideas are born away from work and without the help of mobile devices. Project: Time Off mentions successful business ideas that happened on vacation, including Hamilton, Dropbox and Starbucks.

Longevity

Building in time to rest and refuel your body and mind may help protect you against burnout. Though there may be brief periods of time where longer hours feel necessary, they should not become the norm. In a Mayo Clinic article about career burnout, they mention being cynical or critical at work as a possible sign of burnout along with difficulty concentrating and disillusionment, among other things. Making progress towards your career and personal goals takes time, intention and follow-through.

Higher Productivity

Joe Robinson of Entrepreneur describes taking time off as “the secret to higher productivity” and rightfully so. Robinson writes, “Just like the heart, the brain gets fatigued from too much time on-task.” Along these lines, while some planning is helpful in mapping out your vacation, leaving gaps for an impromptu outing or two can be a welcome treat.

Creativity

UC Berkley’s Greater Good Magazine reports, “Brain imaging studies show that doing nothing, being idle, daydreaming, and relaxing create alpha waves in the brain that are key to creative insights and innovative breakthroughs.

Finally, don’t overlook building a daily and weekly routine that keeps you inspired and operating from a growth mindset. Refer to my recent Ask the Etiquette Expert for a few tips.

You may also like Road Trip Essentials. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow Diane on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.