It’s tough to go on vacation when you’re already feeling like you barely hold your head above water. After all, paid vacation days or not, less time in the office means more emails that pile up. But, as I recently learned in a piece about the benefits of travel for Citi’s Women & Co, getting away from it all isn’t just good for mental rejuvenation; it can actually improve your performance on the job when you return. Here are some other things to consider as you plan your next vacation–despite the stress you may feel about being out of the office.
Lead by example. According to Glassdoor’s Q1 2014 Employment Confidence Survey, the average U.S. employee who receives vacation/paid time off only takes half (51%) of his or her eligible vacation time. More than half of those that do take the time say they work while on vacation. Being a leader in your organization isn’t just about telling employees what to do, or the best way to perform, it’s leading by example–including “modeling” the importance of a work life balance, and how to put the idea into action. In a workplace culture where more employees value the notion of things like flex hours and remote work options above how much they are paid, encouraging this aspect of workplace wellness has far reaching benefits beyond the changes the department feels during the week a co-worker is at the beach.
It reveals some truths about your career choice. I recently returned from a two week trip to Florida and I worked every morning. While there’s a lot to be said for the ability to write a story while sitting on a balcony overlooking the ocean, it was a powerful reminder that despite the fact that I may not make as much money as I once did, I’ve chosen the right path. Keeping money flowing in while vacationing nice of course, but the reality is, I could have chosen to tell clients I’d be out of pocket for a bit. I didn’t–for one powerful reason: I chose to work on vacation because I really love what I do; it isn’t something I really want to put on hold. If you can’t say the same, a vacation can help you slow down and realize if there is something more fulfilling you’d like to do with your life, or take stock of where your career is, and what you may need to do reclaim your career passion.
You’ll get some ZZZ’s. Trying to figure out why vacations are so great is something of a “chicken or the egg” conundrum. Is it the change of scenery and weather, the ability to slow down, the excitement of a new experience–or the fact that you typically have more opportunity to sleep? Whatever the reason, hitting the snooze button on vacay never hurt anybody–or their brain power. A recent study actually confirmed that older adults (50 years of age +) actually have better cognitive abilities than those who get less than six to nine hours of sleep of night
