Why We Need Time Away

Today is the first day of my vacation in 2024. I'm excited about what we'll experience, nervous that all may not go as smoothly as we have planned (but honestly, I've planned very little of this experience), and motivated to change my day-to-day dynamics in a way that allows me to rest, restore, reflect, and generate new ideas.

I talked with a new coaching client earlier this week about taking a vacation. They highlighted that they had planned a vacation for February but didn't take it because of work obligations. They then targeted one in the spring tied to school vacations…and didn't take it.

Their mindset has been one of… we just need to keep pushing; it's a critical growth time in the business.

The issue is that we need downtime…

We need a change in perspective so our brains can wander.
We need rest from work.
We need fun. 
We need community - time with friends and family to gather energy from these experiences.

And… for those who worry about leaving their teams, taking vacations allows others to step up and stretch their skills (or prove to you how much they've grown).

This client wants to focus on being the leader they imagine they can be. 

That means modeling behaviors they want to be part of their organizational culture.

That means planning vacations (and taking them).

That means making time for family activities that are priorities.

I got a great message later in the day. My client has picked their summer vacation week and has started to map out what it will take for them to step away from their responsibilities and be fully present with their family during this time.

When was the last time you took a vacation from work? 

This doesn't mean you need to spend a lot of money or travel far.  It just means committing to a different lifestyle for a period of time longer than a weekend…long enough that you can let go of the day-to-day worries and lean into relaxation and fun.

We are better if we take breaks, shift our perspectives, and care for our physical, mental, and emotional health.

The best leaders do… though sometimes it requires a catalyst for a behavior change.

How are you integrating rest and vacations into your leadership plan?