Out of office
Taking time off work
This week’s blog post is stepping away from the topic of change. This is because over the next two weeks, I will be stepping away from work due to taking some annual leave. I thought it might be worthwhile to take this as an opportunity to reflect on the topic of time off work. We know that having time off work is important as it gives the body the recovery time it needs to recharge our batteries. And yet, we can sometimes neglect to plan in regular holidays or days off work. I would therefore encourage you to review this by asking checking in with yourself: “How are my batteries doing? Might it be helpful to plan in some time off work?”.
If you are struggling with taking regular time off work, it might be worth looking at the reasons for this, as well as finding out how you can benefit from rest and relaxation. What is getting in the way of booking time off? How might taking time off work help you deal with stress and increase your overall wellbeing? What are some of the secondary benefits that you care about, such as time with family or exploring a hobby? It can also be worthwhile to try to problem-solve any barriers to taking time off work.
It can be great fun to travel, to consciously slow down, and explore new places. And yet, there is a certain level of stress associated with going on holiday. Often, there are projects to wrap up, people to meet with, and follow-up tasks to organise for ongoing work, before we can start our holidays. And once we are on holiday, the “always-on” culture can also get in the way of relaxation in the form of notifications and messages reaching us and reminding us of work.
How can we maximise the benefits of time off work? We could start by taking some time to clarify expectations and make a plan. During our time off, we can use mindfulness, meditations, and breathing exercises to slow down. If you would like to give your mind a bit of a break, you could try limiting screentime and adjust your notification settings. If you do need to do some work during your holiday, it can be helpful to block out set times and have a dedicated work station. This way you can avoid work creeping into your personal space more than needed.
What habits help you to consciously disconnect from work? Here is a brief check-in for you:
💡 Are you regularly taking time off work?
💡 What activities help you to recharge your batteries?
💡 How can you give your body and mind a break from work?
In this blog series, we will be looking at different strategies to deal with change. For personalised support with navigating change, please get in touch. For more content on navigating change, please subscribe to my newsletter.
