For many of us, being productive and generative (of ideas, income, value, etc.) is what we thrive on. It's interesting to me, but not unfathomable, that according to Forbes only 25% of Americans took all their paid vacation days last year and 61% said they continue to work while on vacation. We feel we'll lose precious ground if we interrupt the momentum.
Rather than technology helping people work less, allowing for more downtime and time off, nearly half of office-based workers say technology has actually increased the amount of time they spend working, according to the Pew Research Center. All of us are too steeped in a productivity culture to value doing nothing (which is why we struggle with our meditation practice). But we’re losing out on crucial recovery time that our bodies and brains need — which is why vacations are so very important.
Creative ideas need time to percolate, to flow through us without the usual daily distractions/interruptions of deadlines and schedules to work around. Filling ourselves up with nature, reading a good book (unrelated to our profession), making memories with family and friends-- just being rather than doing- will actually increase not only productivity, but chances of advancement in terms of bonuses and promotions.
According to the Harvard Business Review, people who took fewer than 10 of their vacation days per year had a 34.6% likelihood of receiving a raise or bonus in a three-year period of time. People who took more than 10 of their vacation days had a 65.4% chance of receiving a raise or bonus. And remember, this is paid vacation time. So if you're not taking all of your entitled down time, you're basically working for free.
That said, research also shows that poorly planned and stressful vacations eliminate the benefits of time away. "If you plan ahead, create social connections on the trip, go far from your work, and feel safe, 94% of vacations have a good ROI (return on investment) in terms of your energy and outlook upon returning to work. Just make sure you plan the trip at least a month in advance, as one of the key predictors of vacation ROI is the amount of stress caused by not planning ahead" (hbr.org).
What's the take-away? We all need time to soak it in rather than put it out, so plan your time off to be regenerative and de-stressing. This doesn't mean you have to sit and do nothing. We love our adventure vacations going to a new place or having new experiences. We always take our bikes or rent them and hike and swim/snorkel when we can; it's still important to Mind Your Body as part of the rejuvenation process. Just be careful not to pack so much in that you're exhausted when you return home. We love factoring-in late afternoon naps before dinner. As with everything, it's a balance.
On that note, I will be taking a break from blogging for a couple of weeks to spend precious time with family. And whereas I will miss the connection I feel when I post my blogs, I know that I will come back refreshed and renewed. I plan to Be A Sponge and fill up my reservoir with beauty and breath and energy from people and places I encounteralong the way. I hope you will do the same.
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