If you’re not loving your current role, then you probably don’t need any encouragement to take time off. But what happens when the months creep by and you’re genuinely enjoying your work, your clients, and your colleagues, and don’t feel like you ‘need a break’?
Take one anyway.
For all the jokes about the Aussie tradition of ‘chucking a sickie’, it seems we’re a fairly dedicated bunch of workers when it comes to annual leave. A survey of more than 1000 Australians found the average employee has just under 16 days of annual leave, and one in five has accrued more than four weeks.
It suggests that not enough of us are taking time off.
The impacts of not taking enough annual leave are well documented, including burnout and worker dissatisfaction, but to return to my original question – what if you don’t feel like taking a break?
It was a situation I was faced with recently as I approached two weeks of annual leave, booked well in advance at the same time each year to travel with my family.
As the date drew closer, I was absolutely looking forward to the trip but didn’t feel like I ‘needed’ it.
Limping to the finish line, desperate for a break, counting down the days? That just wasn’t me.
In fact, it wasn’t until I was a couple of days into my trip, Slack notifications silenced, emails unread, that I had time to stop, breathe, and reflect, and realise that yes, I needed a break.
Of course, holidays are never all sunshine and rainbows (especially when young children are involved) but to use a cliché, it was nice to step away and ‘fill my cup’.
It also topped up my professional cup, providing fresh ideas, renewed creativity and a boost of energy to tackle the final part of the year, all of which will benefit my clients, colleagues and employer.
It was a valuable reminder that we don’t need to wait until we’re burning out to take a break, much in the same way that car manufacturers don’t recommend waiting until the check engine light is on before servicing your vehicle.
It’s an absolute credit to workplaces who are able to create a culture where employees don’t feel like they need to escape every couple of months. But, if it’s been a while since you’ve taken some annual leave, then it might be time to plan some time off; you can thank me afterwards.
Want to see how Profile Media can help tell your business story, and boost your AI visibility? Contact Profile Media at info@profilemedia.com.au, phone 1300 123 110 or enquire online here.
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