PRODUCTIVITY
Stop Feeling Guilty, Book Time Off
Taking breaks while working is essential to your productivity.
Give yourself the opportunity to relax, recharge and return full of new energy and focus.
We should not feel guilty for taking a break, booking time off work for a holiday or asking to stay in bed when we’re sick.
- If you’re an employee, it’s likely you all have an annual leave policy, so use it!
- If you’re a freelancer, your clients will understand if you want to take time off. They will do this too, we’re all humans.
- If you’re a business owner; take a break, you could find the next best idea to generate more money once you’ve had the chance to reset.
It’s common that people avoid booking time off which results in plenty of unused paid leave every year. In the US alone, there were a “total of 768 million days” unused which was a 9% increase from the year before — I can only imagine this is ever increasing with the shift to remote work.
It’s far too easy to get caught up in work or running your own business, but life’s too short. Before you know it, you’ve had no time to enjoy. Here are some ways to not feel guilty about taking a break from your everyday work routine.
You have every right to take a break from work
Many employees find themselves with the idea that they should work all the time to prove their worth. Some are even afraid to request time off in case their boss finds someone to replace them; this won’t happen. It could also be the fear of falling behind on your work, you’ll have time to catch up when you’re back online. We all need a break and have every right to take one. Taking a break is essential for your well-being, plus you’ll come back far more motivated.
Work-life Balance
You probably already know how important it is to have a healthy work-life balance. It’s no secret that when we are stressed, overworked, or tired, our health will suffer. No one wants to break down under work pressure because you’ve not taken a break in months. Remember how important it is to recharge your batteries — prioritise yourself.
Taking time off boosts your productivity
Studies prove that taking time off work leads to you being more productive when you’re back online. When you take time off to do things you enjoy, you fill your mind with inspiration, happiness and creativity. This then flows into all realms of your life — including your work. It will provide you with higher energy levels, giving you more motivation when you’re back at work having disconnected for some time. We all know our best work comes when we are feeling inspired and refreshed.
Break the monotony
This could be an obvious one once you realise but often it’s one that people don’t think about — change of scenery. Having a change of scenery can help you refocus. It’s often hard to think creatively when every day is the same, your mind doesn’t get to wander or think of new ideas when you see the same four walls every day and never take time off. When you switch from your work desk to laying on the beach or hiking a mountain, you’ll immediately notice you have more space for your mind to wander.
Give yourself permission to enjoy all the things you want to experience in life. You deserve that adventure you’re craving and certainly; you deserve to spend time with loved ones.
Remember, life is too short to work ALL the time so, what are you waiting for? Go book some time off.
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If you enjoy reading stories like this and you want to support me, why not consider signing up for a Medium membership? It will only cost you $5 a month — and you’ll get access to all stories on Medium!
If you use this link, I will earn a small part of that, otherwise, if you want to stay updated when I share a new story, you can signup here, for my free newsletter!
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