5 Benefits of Planned Time Off
Summer is here and the traditional thought of the summer vacation is on many people’s minds. Time off, get aways, and vacations don’t have to be just a summer thing. In fact, it shouldn’t be. I know, I know, people are thinking of family vacations — kids are out of school, etc. However, because of this traditional thinking many leaders forget to recognize that they need time off, away from the business. (I’m looking in the mirror — by the way.) The benefits of a vacation are real, and many articles define the purposes and outcomes of rest and relaxation. But there are some other more hidden positives that come from having planned time off as well.
The idea of sitting on a beach and sipping fruity beverages is a very appealing thought. Or perhaps exploring new places and the corresponding history is the perfect get away for you. Whatever the destination, having it planned out well in advance can actually create more good energy than you might expect. Let’s look at five benefits that can come from having that getaway on the calendar in advance.
1 — Planning creates excitement and engages multiple people and senses
Planning is half the fun in getting a vacation put together. You can begin looking at all the possibilities, places to go, and restaurants to eat at. Or maybe it’s just looking at the pictures of the beach and thinking about the sounds of the waves and the cool drinks brought to you as you watch the day go by. There is a lot of positive energy that comes just in thinking about where you will be going and what you will be doing. Make the trip planning a deliberate activity. Since planning a vacation usually involves other members of the family or friends — this is a double win. They will get those same benefits. The energy can become contagious and build over time as you get closer to your event.
2 — Creates something to look forward to
Think about a time when you had something you were really looking forward to on the calendar. Didn’t that somehow make everything in the weeks leading up to it seem a little better? Studies and other articleshave shown there are psychological benefits that can come from having future events to anticipate. I think we all intuitively know that is the case, we’ve experienced it. It is a great way to create happiness in our lives regularly. Gretchen Rubin has written a lot on happiness, and she covers this in an early article, A key to happiness: having something to look forward to. The more specific your plans, the greater the benefits can be. So don’t just think about taking a vacation in a couple of months, get into the details and have a specific date and place on the calendar.
3 — Creates a sense of urgency to get things done and caught up
As your vacation approaches, the desire to have a clean plate and projects caught up can add some stress. However, it also creates that sense of urgency and an added boost of energy to get those lingering projects complete. Having a good plan of what needs to be done ahead of your time off can ensure that you maximize this drive to get things complete. This will ensure you are getting the right things done. Then you can begin to think about the positive aspects that getting those projects done means as well. It’s like getting two benefits in one.
4 — A natural starting point for new things (when you return)
With a clean slate and a fresh mind, you can enjoy the idea that when you return that anything will be possible. It feels like a natural reset, with every opportunity an option for when you get back. This time tends to be a good place to establish new habits, implement a new work process, or gather the team and reflect and plan ahead for the coming weeks and months. It is similar to the feeling we get at the start of a new year, or even months and quarters throughout the year. It is just a built-in, defined starting point that is specific to you. Take advantage of it.
5 — Jumpstarts your mind on possibilities (what needs to be possible for — enjoying this time away, creating more of these opportunities, could I work differently in the future?)
Towards the end of your time off can be a great point to ask yourself, ‘how do I do more of this?’ When you realize how much you enjoy being away from the daily grind (even if you truly love your job — we all need time away), it is a good chance to look at what would need to happen in order for more of these getaways to be possible. The options, or perceived barriers can range from money savings, time management, to staffing, or delegating more effectively. Regardless of what the answers may be, begin to capture what would need to happen, so you can begin to work towards those for the future.
When you come back from a vacation, your mind is clear, the energy tank is full, and it feels like you are ready to take on whatever presents itself to you. I am often amazed at how a week off can rejuvenate me in so many ways. Plus, with a good plan for when you come back, you don’t have to worry about what might be waiting for you. In Returning From Vacation Doesn’t Have to Ruin the Good Time You Just Had, I cover some ideas to ensure that the refreshed feeling doesn’t fade away at 9am on your first day back. So get something to look forward to on your calendar right now and begin getting the benefits of a vacation before you even set up your ‘out of office’ notification.
What do you look forward to most about having planned time off?
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