Two-thirds of Americans feel the effects of burnout and yet Thirty-three percent of Americans do not use all of their vacation days. Taking a vacation helps rest our minds and boost productivity. When we give ourselves a much needed break we come back to work rejuvenated and a much better version of ourselves. It’s important for leadership to set an example and model “restful behavior.” Companies like Kayak lead by implementing two full weeks of time off for the whole company (one week in June and one week in December). This allows for their employees to fully disconnect and focus on their own well being. This is more about a culture shift then an HR benefit.

"Now, more than ever, we are dealing with elevated levels of stress, anxiety, fear, and frustration due to uncertainty and change," says Bailey. "As so many things are changing around us and so much of our world is uncertain, our brains are carrying a higher cognitive load as we try to make sense of our environment. We are tired. We are burned out. We are exhausted. We need a vacation."

While many American workers have opted to leave their jobs altogether—prompting what is becoming known as The Great Resignation—encouraging (or even forcing) employees to take their vacation time could save a company from losing even more skilled members of their workforces.

Bailey suggests managers could start with setting a good example when taking a vacation or even just a long weekend. "Model restful behavior. Don’t answer emails that can wait. Don’t answer the phone (if it can wait). More than any words you say or rules you set for your team around vacation communication, your behavior will set the standard," he explains. "Similarly, if you answer emails at all hours of the night, your employees who want to follow your lead will start to do the same (or have concerns that they are letting you down if they don’t."

It’s important to remember that burnout is not a problem solved with a vacation. A companies culture can contribute to ones burnout. When we create a culture that supports time off and actually allows for their employees to unplug we start to tackle the embers of burnout. If you are suffering from burnout it’s important to really understand what is contributing to your burnout. You can’t change what you don’t understand. Maybe talk with your coach or a manager to flesh out what steps you can take to create a healthier you.

Source :

Why taking a vacation makes you better at work

King, Rachel

Fortune, January 25, 2022

https://fortune.com/2022/01/25/avoiding-burnout-taking-vacation-day