Take advantage of vacation time
Stepping away from work to take time off can be stressful. In fact, according to the , nearly three quarters of all education professionals in the U.S. take less time than they鈥檙e offered.
If you鈥檙e feeling worried about leaving work behind, here are some tips to help you feel more confident and prepared to enjoy your vacation time.
Signs you need a break from work
People may avoid taking time off for a variety of reasons, but there are usually some telltale signs that it鈥檚 time to step away. Here are a few to consider.
- You鈥檙e feeling stressed, cranky, on edge or depleted more often than not.
- You find yourself working during the day and thinking about work at night.
- Minor inconveniences become major annoyances (at home and at work).
- You feel caught in a cycle of working during the week and catching up on chores or personal responsibilities on the weekends with little time to relax or enjoy life.
- The things you used to enjoy doing at work don鈥檛 excite you anymore.
- You鈥檙e feeling cynical or jaded about your work responsibilities and/or colleagues.
- You dread coming into work or signing in online.
- You feel like you鈥檙e missing out on quality time with the people you love because you鈥檙e so focused on work.
- Most of your conversations are dominated by work-related topics.
If any of these apply to you, don鈥檛 worry. You鈥檙e not alone. In fact, this shows just how crucial time off can be in preserving and improving your well-being.
The benefits of taking time off
Taking time off can help relieve many of the feelings and concerns listed above. Studies also show that vacation time can promote wellness in a variety of ways, including:
- Reducing stress
- Decluttering your mind
- Improving your motivation
- Improving your mental and physical health
- Increasing job satisfaction
- Increased energy and mental capacity
In addition to these benefits, time off can also help you reconnect with who you are outside of work. For instance, it may give you an opportunity to spend more time with your family or friends, enjoy hobbies you may have been neglecting and have worry-free fun.
It鈥檚 also important to know that you don鈥檛 need to have a big vacation planned to take time off. You can take PTO for 鈥榥o reason鈥 or just because. You鈥檒l still reap all the same benefits. Just be sure to spend some time doing the things you enjoy, rather than dedicating all of your time off catching up on housework or other nagging responsibilities.
Clarify your goals
Taking a step back from work is important. However, it鈥檚 also important to know what you want to step towards while you鈥檙e away. Clarifying what you want to do (or not do) can help you make the most of your time off. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to get more clarity:
- Do you want to relax and unwind?
- Do you want to spend time in solitude?
- Do you want to do something adventurous or go exploring?
- Do you want to learn or try something new?
- Do you want to enjoy a hobby?
- Do you want to spend time with friends or family?
You may also want to do a combination of these things. Whatever you choose to do, it鈥檚 important to be realistic about the time and resources that are available to you. This means you may not always be able to have a 鈥榩erfect鈥 vacation. Instead of expecting perfection, allow for flexibility and embrace spontaneity.
Prepare to leave the office
Does the very idea of leaving work behind stress you out? Here are a few ways you can set yourself and your team up for success while you鈥檙e away.
Plan around major events. Do you have a wedding or family reunion coming up? If you have events that you know are going to require time off, be sure to put them in your calendar and submit a PTO request in advance.
Account for busy seasons. Do you get busy around the same time of the year? Do you have major deadlines or projects coming due? Think through your workload and try to avoid taking time off during peak times of the year. This can help alleviate some of the stress of leaving your responsibilities behind. You can also check with your co-workers to try and coordinate time off so there is someone who can take over whenever someone is out.
Call for backup. If you plan to take time off, try to let your supervisor and colleagues know in advance. This can help you work together to ensure things keep moving forward while you鈥檙e gone. Work with your supervisor and team to determine who can answer questions or take over urgent needs that might come up while you鈥檙e away. Schedule time to meet so you can update them on issues or projects that may need their attention. Be sure to remind them at least a week in advance before you take off.
Reschedule meetings. If you have meetings on your calendar for the dates you鈥檙e planning to be out, let the other attendees know. If someone else has invited you to attend a meeting, you may want to ask them to reschedule or to provide you with notes that you can review upon your return. If you鈥檙e the person who generated the meeting, let people know that you won鈥檛 be in attendance or send a cancellation notification to the other attendees.
Create automatic replies. Set up an out-of-office email notification before you leave. This lets people know who to contact in your absence and when you plan to return to work. You can also include information about when people can expect a response. For instance, you may say something like, 鈥淚 will get back to you within five business days of my return.鈥 Just be sure to turn off or schedule an end date for automatic replies when you get back to the office.
Leave work behind
Allow yourself to take a deep breath and relish in the fact that you don鈥檛 have to go to work. Resist the urge to check or respond to work emails, phone calls or messages. Turning off your notifications for Outlook and Teams can help you avoid looking at or responding to every incoming message.
If you need to stay connected to work, set boundaries with your supervisor and co-workers. For instance, you may set the expectation that you will only check messages during certain hours of the day. This could mean that you only answer emails and other requests for one hour in the morning. It鈥檚 also important to remember that you can lean on your team and designated backup person for support. You don鈥檛 have to do everything yourself, especially while you鈥檙e on vacation or taking time for yourself.
Shifting your mindset around work doesn鈥檛 always come easily, and you may need to remind yourself that you are not obligated to work during your time off. After all, that鈥檚 the whole point of taking time off.
Supervisors play an important role in when and how people take time off. Here are some ways that you can help your team take advantage of their vacation days.
Encourage time off. If you notice that your team members rarely take time off, you may want to start encouraging them to do so. It can also be helpful to sit down with employees individually to figure out how you can support them in a way that allows them to take PTO.
Add time off as a goal. Consider making time off a part of your team鈥檚 annual performance goals. While it may seem radical, it can also help promote a culture of self-care and ensure that people are taking the time they need.
Set expectations. Your team members may feel like they need to stay connected, even when they鈥檙e away from the office. Try setting expectations around answering emails, phone calls, messages or requests while they鈥檙e away. Remind them to avoid doing work activities and encourage the rest of your team to avoid reaching out while someone is taking leave.
Manage coverage. It鈥檚 important to manage your team鈥檚 workload, especially if people are going to be out of the office. Ensure your team knows there will be someone to cover for them so they don鈥檛 feel responsible for tasks while they鈥檙e gone. Keep in mind that you may need to distribute work across multiple team members to ensure others don鈥檛 feel overwhelmed by the additional responsibilities.
Make the transition back
Do you ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? You can help make the transition back to work smoother by easing into it. Here are tips to consider.
Take an extra day. If you鈥檝e been traveling, consider taking an extra day to recuperate. This will give you a chance to settle back into your normal routine, which can make the switch back to everyday life a little less jarring.
Create a buffer. The first day back can be overwhelming. Give yourself a buffer day to simply catch up. Consider blocking off your calendar so you have time to look through your inbox and get an idea of what happened while you were away. This can also help you to identify what areas may need your attention in the coming days or week.
Work remotely. If you have a hybrid schedule, consider working your first day back from home. Just be sure to check with your supervisor first.
Catch up. Consider scheduling meetings with your co-workers, supervisor or direct reports to reconnect, catch up and get status updates. This will allow you to work together to identify any potential issues that came up and prioritize next steps.
Ask for help. Don鈥檛 feel like you have to do it all just because you鈥檙e back at work. If you need help getting up to speed or catching up on projects, it鈥檚 okay to ask for help.
Find support
Leave Sharing Program
If you're not able to take all of your excess vacation time, 蜜糖直播 Boulder offers the Leave Sharing Program, where employees can donate days they would otherwise lose due to maximum accrual limits.
Donate your excess vacation time before it expires on June 30, 2024. You can also donate vacation leave days to the program anytime during the year.
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP)
FSAP provides free counseling services, workshops and advising for managers and supervisors. These services can help faculty and staff address mental health concerns, learn about various wellness topics and get support managing workplace conflicts.
Please note: FSAP services are free to all faculty and staff. Additionally, you do not need to take PTO or sick time to utilize these services.
WorkWell
WorkWell provides events, presentations, training and services to support staff and faculty health and wellness.
AcademicLiveCare
Staff and faculty can access free telehealth service from anywhere. Simply sign up for an AcademicLiveCare account to access free medical, nutrition, counseling and psychiatric appointments from licensed providers.