Dont Be A Career Loser Take All Your Vacation Time

Dont Be A Career Loser Take All Your Vacation Time As a recovering workaholic, I strive regularly to integrate life and career to honor my personal relationships and my professional ambition. My life often resembles a roller coaster with ups and downs of activity and never a steady balance. This reality check has allowed me to navigate the ultra-busy career times and offset them with precious down time for me.Ill admit that in previous years, I have not taken all of my accrued vacation time. Shame on me This is not a badge of honor but the badge of a self-proclaimed loser giving away precious time I earned as part of the benefits package for my job.Sadly, Im not alone. fruchtwein adults are overworked and overwhelmed but the counterintuitive reality is that they are not taking all the paid time off theyve earned.According toProject Time OffAfter years of being asked to do more with less workers are overstretched, stressed out, and exhausted. The always-on, 24/7 American work culture is taking a heavy toll, leading to 429 million welchested vacation days that undermine our personal, business, and economic well-being. Simply put, taking earned time off is essential for a productive workforce, strong bonds with family and friends, and a fulfilled life.Salary.com concurs that taking time off will actually help you bemore productive and healthy in life and career.The Difference between Workaholics and High PerformersThere are healthier ways for you to work without sacrificing your professional values, relationships, or the expertise you provide to your organization. There is a cultural misconception that you must be a workaholic to achieve high performance. Workaholism is the only addiction we celebrate. Its time to make a dramatic shift because this is not sustainable and doesnt ensure productivity.High performance and workaholism look the same on the outside. They both look like hard work. The difference is how the individual feels on the inside about who they ar e in relationship to their work.A high performer works hard in healthy sustainable ways and feels happy and inspired. A workaholic works hard in unhealthy unsustainable ways and feels unhappy and burnt out.You have a choice. Ive switched to being ahigh performer. The debilitating overworked culture will change by those who set a good example. I hope youll join me in being a role model.Be the Leader Who Sets a Good ExampleIf you supervise others in your work environment, understand that your behavior sets an example for your colleagues. If you honor your vacation time, then your co-workers will follow suit and take whats owed to them without guilt or concern. Lead by example and reallyunplug during your time away.Vacation should not just mean a change of scenery to do your work in an alternative location.My boss recently shared that his time away during an atypical time of the year would allow him a chance torefresh and revitalize. He promised to come back focused and ready to go wit h a renewed sense of purpose. He did just that, and his time away inspired others to take time off when they needed it, not just during the traditional holiday or summer vacation season. His time away was a win-win for the organizational culture.Parents Need Kid-Free TimeWhile a vacation without your kids may not be possible, a break from the daily routine can do wonders for parents who work. Think creatively about ways to connect with your spouse or partner like abreakfast date or happy hour cocktail before daycare closes or school lets out so you can honor adult time that re-energizes you.Get a Slimmer Waist and a Healthier Heart from Time Away from WorkWhile taking a break from work is meant to be relaxing, what you may not know is that those who spend more time engaged in pleasurable leisure activities, including vacation time actuallyboast a healthier physique. The University of Pittsburgh conducted a study that showed people who logged more down time from work had a lower Body Mass Index and healthier waist circumference two key predictors of overall good health.A host ofstudies have highlighted the befhigung cardiovascular-health benefits of taking a vacation, including reducing the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, decreased depression, and less stress.RelatedTime Off Helps You Thrive in Life and CareerDo Something to Recharge RegularlyMany global work cultures celebrate wohlbefinden days to take time away from work and focus on health and wellbeing. Americans need to catch up on this pro-active investment in health. From wellness practices to a hike in the woods, or simple down time to catch up on your favorite non-work related reading do something just for you on a regular basis and reap the health benefits.I schedule regular reflexology sessions to keep my body aligned and relaxed, and I see this as an essential part of my wellness routine. A non-weekend day of rest every now and then can also do wonders to help your body relax and reju venate.Ponder Your DreamsEver feel like you are so busy working that you forgot what excites you and makes you fulfilled. Take a PTO day todream BIG and consider what you need and want in your life and career. Structured down time to consider the possibilities will allow you to appreciate what you have and also plan for what you want down the road. Time to honor your dreams and create an action plan to make them happen.Plan AheadInstead of being a work martyr, look ahead and consider how you utilize your precious PTO over the next 12 months. Block off single days for wellness breaks in addition to longer term chunks of time for vacations on your calendar now. Dont be a vacation loser and leave this well-earned benefit unused in a given work year. Paid time off is precious and was put in distributionspolitik to help you live a healthier life. Its up to you to take advantage of this resource and honor yourself in the process.This article originally appeared on EllevateNetwork.com.