Taking a well-deserved vacation sounds great, however with the last few years of a struggling economy, taking time off can feel like a risky adventure. Often the rationale for not taking a vacation is based on the fear of not being seen or the notion that your responsibilities could be passed on to others. This keeps employees second-guessing if taking the time is worth it.
The problem with rationalizing whether a vacation is detrimental to your career is that it keeps you in a pattern of stress-related behaviors that over time will take a toll on your health. Many times, lack of enthusiasm is blamed on a poor career choice when it could be that you need a vacation to regain a different perspective.
Taking care of you is part of your career development, even though vacations are often viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity. The idea of taking one when your coworkers are drowning in work can make some feel guilty even though taking a break is healthy.
How many times have you heard excitement mixed with dread when vacations are planned among team members? CNN reported that 57% of Americans who get vacation time don’t use all of it according to a Harris Interactive study for JetBlue. Most of the employees cite a heavy workload as the reason why vacations are often forfeited.
“I don’t really have a back-up for my job,” said Kyra Mancine, a catalog copywriter in Rochester, N.Y. “I worry that if I’m gone for an extended vacation, the work won’t get done and I’ll come back to a huge pile-up of projects. I hate coming back to hundreds of emails.”
Vacations are good for your career and help with your job performance. The benefits far outweigh the mindset of continuing a relentless pace without a change in scenery. The point is, life is too short not to enjoy it, and if you have trouble remembering the last time you took a vacation – you need one.
What would prevent you from taking a vacation this year?
