Is Vacation on Your To-Do List?
Memorial Day has kicked off the unofficial summer vacation season! I recently went on vacation with my sister Tracy to Florida, but to do so, I had to complete my to-do list. After booking the trip, I needed to make sure my business was in order so I could get away for a few days. I often discuss with coworkers how amazing it is that we may be late for work or a meeting due to traffic or other setbacks, but we would never miss our vacation flight!
In preparing for that well-deserved vacation, you’ll find yourself focusing on the priority items that need completion before leaving. You may delegate tasks to others and make sure your clients are taken care of in your absence. You may work late answering emails and returning calls, and finally, it’s vacation time!
Taking time off can help not only you, but also your team. Here are three reasons you and your employees should take full advantage of your earned time and check vacation off your to-do list.
1. Improve Performance – Taking time away from work can actually improve performance! Ernst & Young found that for every 10 additional hours an employee took off, their performance rating grew by 8 percent. On the flip side, vacation deprivation can cause resentment and burnout. The reason why goes back to the importance of rest. Just as you need sleep every night to feel your best, you also occasionally need time away from work to perform to your highest potential. Stepping out of your routines, resetting your body and clearing your mind can provide motivation and energy for your return to the office.
2. Perspective – Are your work days filled with meetings and timelines that leave you little time to think for your personal and professional growth? This time creates awareness around the endless possibilities for you. You gain a great perspective when you go to a different environment and begin to look at your business in a new way. You also learn insights and ideas from how other companies create customer engagement. Time away can provide you the peace, quiet, creativity and space to focus on thoughts and strategy. There is something about sitting in a chair looking at the vast ocean that shifts your mind to focus on the big picture like, “Am I happy with where my business is today? Do I have the right people and right systems in place? What improvements can I make to grow my revenue and coach my team’s outcomes?”
3. Fun – When you plan a vacation, it creates excitement and allows you to look forward to something. It gives you that extra boost each day because you have to work to pay for it. It’s time to pick up a good book, listen to a podcast, play golf, take a long walk, go bike riding and create fun memories with your family and friends. It’s time to connect and have fun! I encourage you not to miss these special moments.
There you have it; it’s time to add vacation to your to-do-list! Power off your phone and computer, and trust your business and revenue will improve while you’re away!