Posted by When it comes to taking a holiday, there are two types of people in this world: firstly, the kind of person who can switch off completely the minute they’re away from their desk, and then there’s the person who won’t let a little thing like the beach get in the way of them working!
If you’re the type of person who feels proud of never taking time off, then this week’s blog is for you. I’m always surprised by the amount of people who can’t see the benefit of taking a break to recharge their batteries and seem to wear it as a badge of honour.
You really can’t underestimate how important stepping away from work really is. It gives your brain a rest, meaning you’ll ultimately perform better at work, so you’re fooling yourself if you think you don’t need to take a break every now and then!
Taking a holiday can also help you avoid burnout, which in itself can lead to numerous health problems, such as chronic fatigue, headaches, stomach issues, and a weakened immune system, not to mention mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Basically – nothing good!
So why do we do it? Here are just a few of the reasons I’ve heard in the past from people hellbent on never taking time off… and what I think about them.
“Nothing works if I’m not there”
If you like to tell yourself that things at work are going to fall apart the minute you’re not there, then perhaps it’s time to check your ego.
We all want to believe that we’re an integral piece of the day-to-day goings on in the workplace, but in all honesty, is that really true? Is you taking a few days away from the office really going to cause the entire operation to fall over, or does your ego want to think that’s what will happen?
If it is actually true, then maybe it’s time to take a look at your work environment. If there’s such an atmosphere of chaos around you that it really does fall apart without you (or any other team member), then it’s time to rethink how you’re doing things.
Working in an environment like that doesn’t just create extra stress for you, it can’t be fun for the people around you either.
“I’m too busy”
Think about the message this sends to the people around you. Effectively, you’re telling your partner, your kids or your friends that your work is more important to you then spending time with them, and that means there’s something dangerously out of balance in your life.
I’ve talked about this before, but I remember spending one birthday in Spain. My family were outside, celebrating with cake and having a great time. I was at my desk the whole time, trying to save a deal that was about to go south. Now, work will come and go – it’s the nature of business – and yes, that deal went wrong in the end, so I missed out on spending time with my family that I can never get back, for no reason at all.
Remember, being busy doesn’t always mean you’re being productive! Ask yourself if what’s making you so busy is moving you closer to your goals. And always, always make your loved ones your priority.
“It’s too expensive”
Now, I’m not trying to be flippant here: I realise that times are tight for a lot of people at the moment. However, if your reason for not taking a holiday is that you can’t afford it, then perhaps you need to revisit what your definition of a holiday actually is.
Taking a holiday doesn’t automatically mean you have to bankrupt yourself by jetting off to a 5-star resort in the Caribbean! If that’s the kind of break you think you ought to be going on, ask yourself why, and then think about what you could be doing instead.
Are you choosing big, flashy holidays because you want to look good? Because you’ve seen other people’s holiday posts want it for yourself? Because you think the only way you can have fun is to drop a ton of cash?
A holiday shouldn’t be about how great the pictures are going to look on Instagram, they should be about switching yourself off from work and taking a break (whether that’s on your own, or with family/friends), and you can do that without burning a hole in your credit card!
It might take some research and resourcefulness, but planning a low-budget break will a/ be fun and b/ be a lot more rewarding in the long run.
“I’ll feel guilty”
This is a really tough one to deal with. Often, we’re conditioned to thinking that if we’re not grinding away at a desk for hours and hours every day, then we’re somehow being lazy. That doesn’t make sense to me – as I said earlier, just because you’re sitting at a desk doesn’t mean you’re actually achieving anything.
I’ll often spend time away from my desk, but still be working – I’ll do calls while I’m out for a walk, for instance. Sometimes, you need a change of environment to untap your creativity, being at a desk can just make you feel stifled.
Ask yourself why taking a break makes you feel guilty. Do you have a limiting belief telling you that you don’t deserve a break? Is there someone at work making you feel like you shouldn’t be taking time off? Grab a pen and paper if you need to and note down why you’re worrying about going on holiday, then think about what you can do to mitigate those guilty feelings.
“I’ll never be able to switch off”
By the same token, I know a lot of people who struggle to switch off, and by the time they’ve finally got close to being relaxed, it’s time to get on the flight home. That can be really disheartening – you’re just starting to enjoy yourself, when it’s cut short!
Often though, that can be the kickstart people need to plan more breaks into their working life. And the more time you take for yourself (whether that’s on an overseas break or just staying close to home and enjoying some down time), the easier and quicker it’ll be to get into holiday mode the next time.
Your health is your wealth
If you’ve read everything I’ve said above, and can still come up with an argument as to why it doesn’t apply to you and why you don’t need a holiday, then just take a moment now to think about your health. If you’re working hard to make money to provide for your (or your family’s) future, or score that big promotion, then none of it will be worth a damn if you burn yourself out and end up too sick to enjoy what you’ve achieved.
Taking time off not only gets you away from the constant pressure of work, and give you a chance to rest, refresh and recharge, but it will boost your focus and productivity in the long run too.
It can also reignite your passion, not just for work, but also for any hobbies and interests you might have let slide while you were chaining yourself to your desk. Sometimes, a break from routine is all you need to fire up that spark and enthusiasm.
I guess what I’m saying is that it should be clear that taking a holiday isn’t just a luxury; it’s an essential investment in your well-being and overall happiness. So stop making excuses and get in the pool!