5 tips to taking guilt free time off this festive season
by Howard Blackburn . Published Dec. 10, 2021
Give yourself permission this festive season to reconnect with what matters most & rejuvenate for 2022!
Y O U D E S E R V E I T ! ! !
Christmas is just around the corner, and most people are looking forward to a couple of weeks off work!
Does the thought of taking time off this year cause you stress & a little anxiety?
Do you ask yourself...
- What will happen once you walk out?
- What if something goes to s&^t?
- Will emails respond to themselves?
Do you find yourself taking time off...
- then feel stress during that time?
- still working during that time?
As leaders, for you to be the best you can be in your role - you need to have the energy and attention to inspire others & there is no way you can do this running on empty.
Working while you're supposed to be unwinding can
- negatively impact your relationships
- take you away from the present moment
- wreck havoc not only on your body, but also your mental health.
Time away can reduce “burnout” – now recognised in the International Classification of Diseases as an ‘occupational phenomenon’.
Burnout can be defined as ‘energy depletion, exhaustion and negativity’ resulting from chronic workplace stress. If you don’t find the time to address burnout, time will likely, in one way or another, find a way for it to deal with you.
So here are 5 tips I have for you to taking time off work (whether it be 2 weeks or 2 days) and being able to enjoy it – stress and guilt free!
Tip 1: Ignite your "off time" Mindset
- Focus on what you and your team are gaining by you taking time off, rather than what you’re losing.
- Try changing your mindset to “I deserve this time off” and “I will be rejuvenated and in better form when I come back.”
- It’s a simple but powerful shift in thinking and intent. Embrace the thought of time off as a tool to take you momentarily away from the daily grind, where you can reflect, review, and recharge.
- Then, when you come back, picture yourself hitting the ground running, with more energy and ultimately, the capacity to be more strategic and ignite your leadership.
Tip 2: Communicate
- Don’t just suddenly disappear or be gone for an unknown period of time.
- Show respect to your team and colleagues and tell them you’re going to be away and give them enough time to make their own plans if that’s needed.
- The importance of providing reasonable notice to others can’t be underestimated.
- HOT TIP: Turn on your email ‘out of office’ and direct enquiries to your teams lead. This way people know if you’re unreachable and when you’ll be back.
- More importantly it ensures things can still be actioned and not pile up for you on your return! This way people know if you’re unreachable and when you’ll be back.
Everyone’s expectations can then be aligned and no one gets a nasty surprise.
Opportunity!
This one is my favorite.
Tip 3: Empower a team leader
- Giving your team opportunity to step up and take the lead not only ensures your role continues in your absence, but it also showcases the focus on development to your team. Inspiring aspiration!
- Appointing someone to play your new lead’s existing role, also ensures you are not giving the new lead an opportunity and expecting them to play 2 roles!
- Leading a thriving culture builds trust within your team & ensures momentum will always continue with this production line in mind!
Tip 4: Know what relaxes you
- For some, relaxation may mean spending time in nature, whereas others may enjoy intense physical activity. For you, it may be diving into a good book or wandering through an art gallery.
- Whatever it is that you enjoy in a non-work setting, go do it during this precious time!
- Be warned though – jam packing your time off with back to back activities may ultimately lead to exhaustion.
- Allow for an injection of spontaneity in your downtime and possibly open yourself up to opportunities that day to day life doesn’t offer. Having an open schedule provides for the possibility of new experiences.
Tip 5: Plan your return
- There will never be a ‘right time’ for time off, but just as equally, give some thought to how you will return and what process you may need.
- Returning to work and immediately feeling stressed can quickly wipe out the benefits of a holiday.
- Block out your diary for a day or two, so that you can catch up and ease back into it.
- No-one remembers “he/she was awesome at replying to emails”, so make your holiday count! There will never be a ‘right time’ for time off, but just as equally, give some thought to how you will return and what process you may need.
- And if you’re a boss or a client, consider giving your team or contractors a break from you! It cuts both ways.
This is an amazing time of year, you’ve just nailed the grand final!
You deserve time to celebrate that and you NEED to rest, reflect & recover before ripping into 2022!!
Next Steps
Time to set the 2022 game plan
I hope these tips were of value, and I’d love to hear how you go putting these tips into practice!
You can join people leaders like yourself in our free facebook community group, “The Beyond Busy Mindset”
Click here to join the free community.
Better yet, get the results you want faster and enjoy your holidays now you are all set to smash 2022!
About Howard
Howard Blackburn is an award-winning people leader, business mentor and empowerment coach in Sydney, Australia with over a decade of experience in leadership coaching & mentoring.
Howard has a passion for people and leadership development.
He started PATHRIVE to help empower people to evolve beyond the culture of busy and into balance.
