You do! It is a well-known fact; Americans receive less paid days off than many other countries around the world. And still, when faced with this smaller amount of vacation time, we are inclined not to take all our time off. What is wrong with us?
Many of us worry taking time off looks bad with the boss, or because there is so much to do, we cannot afford the time away. Corporate culture often seems to equate taking time off with slacking, many employees feel they are effectively penalized for taking vacation and that promotions and other rewards go to people more able and willing to work around the clock. Others feel the need to stay connected with the office despite being on “vacation”. A survey by job site Glassdoor found contact with the office was common while on vacation. The survey found these top reasons employees work during their time away:
33% – No one else at my company can do the work
28% – Fear of getting behind
22% – Complete dedication to the company
19% – Want a promotion
19% – Feel like they cannot be disconnected
Chief among those are increased productivity, better health outcomes, plus greater creativity and innovation. Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of “The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in our 24/7 World,” reports workers who forgo their vacations might be physically present at work, but they often are checked out mentally. “If people are overworked, they’re surfing the Internet. They’re not contributing to the bottom line.” Lower blood pressure, more positive attitudes and decreased levels of depression were some of the documented benefits to more leisure time, which includes vacations, reported by a group of 1,399 survey participants recruited by the Mind Body Center at the University of Pittsburgh. From a creative standpoint, Robert R. Butterworth, a Los Angeles psychologist with International Trauma Associates, explains that workers in creative fields especially need the opportunity to recharge their batteries. “If you have a job that’s very creative and you don’t take time off you hit a wall and you need a change. The break will allow you to refresh your brain cells.”
Our profession demands both long hours and creative energy. There are thousands of decisions to work through with clients and contractors, deadlines loom and we are frequently called upon as the arbiter between what is architecturally desired versus what is practical and buildable. It takes a lot of energy. Time away from this pressure cooker allows for some decompression, often it provides an opportunity to see a design issue in a different context. Travel can provide fresh ideas, a context which takes you out of your normal routine and allows you to see buildings and interiors from other cultures, climates, urban cities and small town burgs.
Think about your first time away from home. Maybe it was camp or college, but it allowed you to grow as a person. Without your parents as a safety net, you learned life skills for yourself. Eric Holtzclaw in his book “Lean Forward” writes, “The same is true for your company. Your time away will allow you both to grow. It’s during time away that you see how well your company runs.” Your absence can empower others to learn new skills, encourage critical thinking/decision making and expose subordinates to develop initiative and responsibility. It creates a broader, deeper layer of employee experience and provides management redundancy. If that one member of your team who is your sole source of talent gets hit by a bus… well, you know where I am going with that thought.
As we near the holiday season, consider taking some extra time off to relax and recharge, or maybe book that vacation for later in the year. Allow yourself some time unplanned and unconnected with the office. It will benefit you, your career and your coworkers with a much-needed break. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.