How Time Off and Relaxation Can Boost your Career (Really!) 

It’s never a good time to take a vacation, let’s just face it. There is always an excuse why you can’t go, but the bottom line is that the company will never, ever take a pause for you to personally take a vacation — but here’s a news flash: the company will still run without you there! Yes, it’s amazing and shocking, I know — because you feel are the only one who really works in your department, and so many people depend on you.  But believe it or not, you can step away for a few days, and they will all survive.

As women, our job is never done. We wake in the morning (or in the middle of the night) to tend to our family needs. We rush out of the house in the morning, hoping we have on two shoes that match, or just that we have something on other than houserobe.  We then dash in and out of meetings all day, and sit in traffic after work. Then, when we pull up to the daycare, we hear that our kid(s) needs diapers, money for lunch, etc.  After that, we frantically cook dinner (a healthy one, not of the box of course), give baths (in a suit), break up fights over the favorite toys, give kisses for bedtime, and then return downstairs to say hello to your spouse, hand off a grocery list, and then answer emails till 11:30 p.m., finishing up by setting your alarm for 6 a.m.  Sounds exhausting, doesn’t it?

Breaking up the Stress: Why Vacations Matter

So, the research is out there…that vacations are good for us and our teams! And as women, we have a responsibility to not only perform at our best at work, but also at home. And the only way to make meaningful deposits in both areas is to make sure that we are taking care of ourselves so that we are able to give 150% each and every day.

The fact is that 7 out of 10 workers miss out on family activities, yet 73% of people agree that the key to a good life is family.  Do you see the disconnect here?  And no, I’m not passing judgment, I’m guilty too! But, I am a firm believer that we must be the ones to control the direction of our careers and our families. Our careers are solid when our personal lives are solid.

So, what does that mean? How can you do it all? It starts with a serious gut check. Two simple sets of questions to ask yourself and your family: 1) When was your last major contribution at work, and was it impactful to the entire team? 2) When was your last major contribution to your family, and was it impactful to each person? If you are able to answer #1 with no problem, but struggle with #2, I urge you to stop reading and go to expedia.com right now. GO!

But if you’re waiting to navigate to a fabulous travel sight, let’s talk about why it’s good to take a week vacation.  First, it is a huge deposit in the family bank to say, “We are going to the beach!”  Kids scream with joy, and your husband gets a smile. Simply put, it reconnects you. You build life-long memories, explore new places together, have a romantic evening out, and replace your screensaver that has a picture of a beach with a picture of you on a beach!  You can relax.

Now here is where “nemesis” comes in. That’s what I call that little voice in the back of your head that puts nasty little thoughts where they don’t belong:  in other words, if you are doing a search for a hotel and are looking at the reviews to see how the Wi-Fi connection is, to make sure you can check your email — instead of how comfy the beds are — just don’t go. Honestly. You are wasting your money, and you are doing a disservice to your family and your team.   If you need further convincing about how your hiatus can help the latter, however, read on.  

How Vacations Can Help You at Work

Now, how can your fellow employees benefit by you going on vacation?

1. Increase your Stock Value
Your team will have the opportunity to see how valuable you are! They need you! They miss you!  After all, they look for you even when you are in meetings for an hour; of course you they are going to miss you when you are gone for a week.

2. Come Back Better than You Left
Studies show over and over that employees that take time off have higher productivity at work. A study conducted by former NASA scientists identified that people who took vacations experienced an 82% increase in job performance post-trip. Can you imagine the type of rock star you would be at work if you just let yourself sit on the beach for a week?

3. Think Outside the Box
Of course, no one said that you couldn’t lie on the beach and contemplate a solution to a problem at work.  Not to mention that different people and different cultures often open up our minds to new ideas, opportunities and solutions. So capitalize on what you have experienced — a well-traveled person has insights that others just don’t have.

4. We Want You to Go
Every great manager is grooming a predecessor. (If you’re not, then that’s a different conversation).  Give that person the opportunity to lead or fill in for you where they can. This is a challenge for not only them, but you. Your boss will see that you have developed a predecessor, or are in the process of doing so to backfill your role, and maybe that could be sooner rather than later. Not to mention, your boss and your HR department are pushing for you to go. They know that the team will reap the benefits of a more well-rested you.

5. Happy, Happy, Happy
If you put on your mood ring from junior high, would it be black right now? Yeah, I thought so. A Dutch study in 2010 found that planning a vacation can boost happiness. The anticipation and excitement of “what if…” simply puts you in a better mood, just thinking about the opportunities to do something different and on your own schedule. We have all seen that person at work the week before they go on vacation, when nothing fazes them. They are sharp, well-tempered, not stressed, and just plain happy.

If you’re still not sure about this vacation thing, the next time you are in the airport or standing in line at the grocery store, grab the first magazine you see with a beach, mountain or jungle on it. If you find yourself fantasizing about going to that very place on the magazine cover, find out where it is and GO!