The Importance of Taking Time Off Work + Tips to Unwind

Vacation time is critical to any employee. It allows you to relax, reset and return to work feeling refreshed and motivated. Still, work is such a big part of our lives that completely disconnecting can sometimes be hard to do. So how can you get started and feel relaxed from day one of your vacation? 

Why is de-stressing more than just taking vacation time?

It’s simple: just taking a few days off isn’t enough to make you fully rested. It’s easy to think that you’re already the prime example of relaxation once you’ve requested vacation time. But how often do you find yourself checking your work email? We bet it’s happened more than once. You can’t enjoy time to yourself if you spend it worrying about what you’ll come back to after. 

What can you do to truly unwind on vacation? 

Let’s jump into the tips and tricks that will help you disconnect. 

• Listen to your needs

We often think that a good vacation involves traveling and seeing new sights. But remember what helps you de-stress. If planning a trip sounds exhausting, don’t do it. Your vacation is about you. Does spending five days in bed doing absolutely nothing sound like a dream? Then you’ve already got your days off planned. 

• Trust your team

Know that your co-workers can do their job without you. No matter how important you are at work, once you’re resting, you’re away. Forget that there are things that need to be done. Turn off your work email, delete the Slack app from your phone, and allow yourself to be unreachable. 

• Put technology away

Don’t just focus on your colleagues. We all need a few days away from our phones. So ignore the ever-calling song of social media. Whether you’re reading a book, getting drinks, or traveling, let your phone be the last thing you reach for that day. 

• Forget to-do lists

A to-do list can be great, but it’s just a suggestion. Day three of your vacation, and you still haven’t checked anything off? That’s completely fine. This time is yours, and you should move at your own pace. Write down a big red “Relax” as your number one thing to do and prioritize it over everything else. 

Come back to work energized

Your vacation benefits more than just you. Your colleagues will thank you when you come back relaxed and more motivated than ever. Your time off is useless if it doesn’t let you rest. So forget feeling guilty about not being at work and focus on yourself.