Are You Really Getting The Most Out Of Your Vacation Time?

 In a recently published LinkedIn study, an astounding 73% of full-time professionals mentioned that they would forego a job offer if the offering company did not match up with their own expectations. Interestingly, 76% of respondents mentioned that vacation time is very important, if not vital, to their job acceptance. In a digital world that allows individuals to keep track and manage their work at all times, it’s not a surprise that mental “burnout” is creeping up on every industry’s best. To combat this, vacation time is needed to provide the most talented, hardworking, and committed with a break from their professional lives. They need to be given time to recharge and enjoy time outside (figuratively and metaphorically) to live more impactful and positive lives. Unfortunately, corporate America has not allowed this freedom to truly take hold.

     It was noted that 46% of working individuals have mentioned that they do not take 100% of their allowed time off. Of that 46%, 38% mention that there is simply too much work and 28% report that there are no company-wide fillers to ensure their work is completed on-time. While contractually-agreed upon vacation expectations and allowances are legally protected, employees do not feel comfortable taking off excess time. Over half of the respondents reported that while they were able to manage to make an escape to uncharted territories, they still feel the need to consistently keep tabs on their work messages, texts, and emails. Short and sweet, they don’t want to get left behind.

     At the end of the day, if you’re encountering this dilemma (or preparing to face it), be realistic with your professional work and relaxation. If you plan on taking some time off, what can be withheld until your return? If a full two-weeks worth of time away can’t be accommodated, create some shorter, longer-weekend type scenarios. Find a locale that will make the most of your time and money to truly enrich your distance away from the office.

     You’re going out for a refresh – a chance to completely make peace within yourself. If it adds to the helpfulness of the time spent away from coworkers, spend some time with your team and any other important team members to ensure your time away is accounted for and proactively managed. It may be beneficial to even develop an “emergency plan” for the most vital or even all members of the office during their times away from active communication. No matter how senior or how new an employee stands in a company, they all serve important jobs in an organization that needs to be efficiently completed to ensure tenured success. Some of you may have the power, stature, or ability to more freely claim absolute freedom while on vacations. This may come with greater ability but do not allow yourself to completely rupture yourself while you sail across the Caribbean in your yacht. Digital communication is a gift and a curse. Simply, keep your work-life maintained only during very specific intervals in which checking your work number is perfectly acceptable.