3 Reasons Why You Need Time Away from Work
I took advantage of the Fourth of July holiday week to do something I’ve never done — take a summer vacation! I typically saved vacation time for the colder months when I lived in the Midwest. This year, I changed that and took a week off.
Here’s what I learned about the importance of taking time away:
1️⃣ The Importance of a Change in Scenery
- Getting stuck in routines that keep you in the same environments every day is easy. My days are spent sitting in my home office, which I prefer over commuting, but it’s still the same daily space. Time outside of work often involves running errands to the same places I went last week.
- During the holiday weekend, I spent three days away in Jerome, AZ, an old mining town turned artist haven. I stayed in a haunted hotel (no ghosts, just great sleep!) and explored art galleries. I also took a 4-hour train ride through the Verde Canyon at sunset.
- This change of scenery gave me a sense of awe about the natural world. It made work seem insignificant compared to the grander intricacies of life and nature. I breathed fresh air, marveled at rock formations, and gazed at a sky full of stars. This weekend reminded me of how much I love art and nature and how I want more of both in my life.
2️⃣ Renewed Perspective on Career
Since college, my primary pursuit has been a sustaining and rewarding career. I like to think I didn’t forsake other enjoyments along the way, and at this point, I feel like I’ve attained some measure of that. The break from work gave me time to breathe and renew my perspective on my career.
- Work is mentally challenging with its rewards, but it doesn’t define a happy life.
- The drama and challenges of a job are not my life — they are the dramas and challenges of my work persona. I need to keep them separate.
- Fresh space away gave me time to contemplate my career without a mind filled with work obligations. What do I want my next steps to be? Are there changes I want to make? What parts of my career fill my cup, and what parts drain it? These thoughts only come after time away.
3️⃣ Reassessing Personal Life and Priorities
Pausing the daily grind uncluttered my mind and made me think more about myself and what’s important to me. It was amazing not to be tied to my calendar and have fun exploring and spending quality time with Kenn. The pause let me reflect on how I prioritized different parts of my life and work, and it was clear there were changes to be made.
- Own my calendar. I always tell my direct reports this, but sometimes I need to remember to practice it myself! A few changes gave me much-needed mental space without sacrificing anything.
- My health is always on my mind as I get older, and I realize I haven’t given it the priority I think I do. I vow to be more honest with myself on this.
- Break routine habits and replace them with higher priorities. Watching TV while I eat dinner often flows into an entire evening. I have enough incomplete creative projects to put that time towards instead.
These reminders came at a good time for me. With summer in full swing, I hope they inspire you to take time away from work and get a fresh perspective on what you’re doing and what might be worth changing.
#SelfCare #WorkLifeBalance #CareerGrowth #MentalHealth #PersonalDevelopment
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
