A Simple Yet Effective Way to Beat Burnout
Episode 385 | Author: Emilie Aries
I know we’re just three weeks into the new year, but I want to share why it’s never too early to make a plan for your well-deserved time off.
We already know that one of the key causes of burnout is a lack of rest. We can talk all day about getting enough sleep or taking breaks throughout your average week, but let’s look at this at a year's glance.
According to the US Travel Association, nearly half of Americans left unused vacation days on the table in 2018 which amounted to 768 million unused vacation days, 236 million of which disappeared because they were to “use it or lose it.” They launched a new initiative called Project Time Off, and found that what truly helped workers take time off, is the fact they made a plan for their PTO.
It’s no secret that I’m a planner fanatic myself, which is why I want to share a few simple steps you can take to plan for your PTO and sustain your ambition all year long.
Make a plan for your PTO
Another key finding from Project Time Off is that individuals who plan are more likely to use all of their time off, take more vacation days at once, and report greater levels of happiness - both at work and at home. They've even designated January 25th: National Plan for Vacation Day to encourage people to be proactive about planning their PTO.
As January 25th approaches, I challenge you to sit down with your calendar, your loved ones, your friends, your partner, and look at the entire calendar for the year ahead and plan out your PTO.
Don’t wait too long to take a break
My next piece of advice is don’t wait too long to take a break!
Last year, Brad the Dad and I went 6 months without taking a single day off from work and let me tell you, those were crazy times. Going that long without a break is unsustainable, so take it from me - don’t wait too long.
Maybe you don’t have any vacation plans yet and that’s okay. Taking a day off can be as simple as a staycation, where you pamper yourself at home, watch Netflix all day, or go on a day trip. In fact, one of my best friends has a great hack where she aims to take at least one personal day a quarter.
As counterintuitive as it is, taking a personal day in the first quarter will make you more focused and productive for the rest of the year.
Don’t fall into the martyr mindset
That's the thing about burnout, it feels like martyring yourself for the career, the cause, or the organization is a good thing, but in fact, it backfires. It’s a mindset that tells us “success requires suffering,” which I talk all about in my book.
So here’s your challenge today: make a plan for your PTO this year, or at the very least, your first day off for this quarter!
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