Americans are being worked to death by our employers and we’re letting this happen! I believe that we should work hard, give more than 100% at work, but the question I have to ask you is this: Do you live to work, or work to live? Work life balance is the key to managing your life, family, health, and wealth well. Even during my worst times of being seriously broke, when I was on vacation I actually took the time to rest.
In the past 10 years I averaged around 50 hours a week minimum at work not including commuting times. When I took a vacation I freaking NEEDED one! Earlier this fall a Harris Interactive Survey found that 61% of employees polled were working on their vacation. What the hell?? Why are you going on vacation then? Why are you wasting your time off that you earned on someone other than you? Be careful with how much you give away to others.
Life Lesson #1: People will always take as much as you are willing to give. If you give away your time, they will take it. Why would you do that? Did you not work hundreds of hours and spend your life energy to earn those 40-80 hours of vacation? What are you so afraid of? The business will still need you when you get back-if you are kicking a@@, creating solutions to problems, and keeping clients happy. SO, if you’re doing those things you’re good. Remember, finding new employees is a hassle! No one wants to fire good employees.
Life Lesson #2: Be selfish-about caring for yourself. Everyone will benefit in the end because you will be happier! Take your time. Go to the school of massage and get an inexpensive massage, get a manicure/pedicure from the local beauty school, take a walk with a loved one. Have a cup of coffee.
Life Lesson #3-Caring for yourself helps you to care for other people better. If you are a parent, an adult caregiver to your own parents, married or on your own and want to volunteer being rested and in a good frame of mind will help you to help others.
If you are self-employed this is tricky. You may need to hire someone temporarily to run some of the tasks that you worry about. So, if you are a blogger and are going on vacation maybe you would hire people to write posts for you, watch your comments, or just monitor things while you’re gone. If you run a restaurant, you would have your second in command run things. I understand that there is a certain element of fear when it comes to letting someone else take over things-even for a short time.
Life Lesson #4–A well organized person can take advantage of opportunities. If you’re well organized prior to departure and understand the workflow at your business you should be able to anticipate some of the things that will come up. Don’t be afraid that the work that has been delegated from your position will make your employer think that they can function without you. Again, you should be providing such good work that they WILL notice when you’re gone even if the mundane tasks are covered.
Life Lesson #5-Fear takes away your power. I have also experienced being fearful about taking my time off. The problem with this is that sooner or later the pace that you’re setting-work+family+commute+cleaning the house+preparing meals+laundry+the list goes on-the pace will get to you sooner or later. You should never let anyone know that you’re afraid-that shifts the advantage to them in all dealings.
If you are still nervous about taking a longer break and decompressing, then take a shorter vacation-and ENJOY IT!! You live only once and we spend a lot of time at work-which is fine. However, when I’m taking a vacation that’s my time. All mine. If you can’t figure out how to rest and be completely in the moment then you need to figure out why you can’t relax.
Do you check in with work while on vacation? Do you look at your work emails?
Are you nervous to take a long vacation? Why?
Latest posts by Michelle (see all)
- How Work Policies Against Black Women Birthed a Love of the Soft Life - 20 March, 2024
- How Taylor Swift’s IP Victory Could Change the Business of Music - 28 February, 2024
- Why Don’t More Personal Finance Content Creators Talk About Policy - 16 January, 2024
It depends on what kind of vacation it is. When I went to Portland/Seattle, Fincon, and Detroit I did, but those were kind of “working vacations.” And not even vacations really but travel. But two years ago I went to the big island of Hawaii and shut off the world and it was brilliant. I was so happy. Of course I expensed the damn thing on credit cards so that was no bueno, but when I go to Iceland I plan on shutting everything out completely.
I think you hit an important point. To me, what you describe in your comment is a work remote situation. A vacation for me is a very clear situation. I am going away from all of the people, distractions, and situations that have contributed to any stress, exhaustion, or anxiety that I am feeling. If I am taking paid vacation time off from work (my office)-then I’m going to spend a lot of time before I leave getting organized and all of my ducks in a row so that I can enjoy my time away. Then, when I return I want to do an even better job when I get back.
I have only taken one week off the two years I’ve been working full time, and I definitely used it to unplug and get away. You’re very right in that it’s sometimes necessary to do so, otherwise you’ll face burnout at work and no one will benefit from that. The purpose of vacations is to stop thinking about work and other things that are stressing you out! Why take one if you’re just going to “check in,” which probably turns into an hour of going through emails.
E.M.-go on a vacation!! I just experienced burnout reading your comment. I’ve gotten to the point where I just don’t see the point in working myself to death. I DO believe in working hard-but, I’ve noticed that when I burnout my quality of work suffers big time. Life is short, I’ve had enough stress in my life without creating more stressful situations. I will be taking 7 days off of blogging and social media from December 25-December 31st. I am exhausted and I plan on stepping up my game in 2014 and offering online and offline services. If I don’t take that break I won’t be able to meet the goals that I’ve set for myself. I can’t wait to rest.
Thank you for this! I’ve recently put too much energy into my job and not enough into my blog, personal life, etc. I’ve felt down and overwhelmed. Finally taking some time for me and trying to catch up. At my old job I would look at my emails because I was in a management position. I am not in that situation so I wouldn’t check emails, etc. Seriously, we work too much! I am trying to find that elusive balance.
Chica, I’m freaking exhausted this year. It was a crazy year with a lot of trips, changes at work, blogging, and trying to change my life. I have given other people more than enough of my time so I don’t feel guilty at all about focusing on myself. If I don’t who will? I am in a very important position in my organization-but, I don’t check my emails when I’m gone. It’s counterproductive to me and the organization. I won’t be traveling too much this year because I want to go on a HUGE trip in 2015. I will be working a ton-so, when I take time off, I will go to the spa, walk around, and do whatever it is that will relax me.
I sometimes work on vacations now (ish) but being self-employed, I actually like what I’m doing. I can usually take off completely though by doing everything ahead of time and letting my clients know I’m not working for a few days.
The American vacation is f*cked. When I was a tax accountant, we were expected to work more before and/or after our vacation to make up for it. Ummm, how is this a benefit if we still have to work the hours. Not to mention there was a tax deadline like every other week so our vacations were limited.
I am gearing up to work for myself and I do think about how I will balance my time off. Working for myself will mean that I will work harder and smarter. I want to work for myself so that I can be location independent. That will change my work/life balance and how I approach time off. I can’t wait! And yes, the American “vacation” is a joke. We are stressed out, gaining weight, disconnected from one another and we are allowing it happen. A huge part of why I want to work for myself is so that I can focus on what is important to me.