We still need to take time off even when there’s nowhere to go — here’s what to do
Generally, when we take time off from work and the daily stresses of life we’re packing up to go travel. I’ve heard from many that are planning to power through this period before taking time off. But this comes at the great danger of burnout, even if life at home feels slower and more relaxed than usual.
I’ve been working from home since the first week of March and two months without taking PTO days is not sustainable or healthy.
Even with the ability to travel paused, it is more important than ever to use vacation days. But it requires redefining what we hope to get out of taking time off.
Vacation should not always mean packing up and going somewhere — in quarantine or not.
The restorative power of staying close
Two summers ago, I took a week-long vacation. A week-long vacation just like many people do over the summer. And it was one of the best vacations I’ve ever taken.
It didn’t require planning.
It didn’t require hopping on a plane.
It didn’t require saving tons of money.
It didn’t bring on stress.
What was this magical vacation!?
It was one where I stayed local. But I think of it more than a “staycation.”
We all easily get the travel bug. We see jaw-dropping images of pristine locations posted to Instagram. We have friends and co-workers gush about their impossibly amazing trip. We get an email for a flight deal and start daydreaming about the tropical paradise.
I need a vacation from my vacation
The trips I’ve been on are wonderful. However, I often feel like I’m not as restored both mentally and physically as I’d like to be.
I’m maxed out on logistics — transportation, plans, meals
I’ve tried to cram as much as possible into every minute off the trip
I’ve eaten all the food
I’ve had all the drinks
I’ve spent all the money
I’m jet-lagged
I’m exhausted
All of these are sacrifices we’re willing to make to see more of the world. And it’s worth it. But travel typically serves a goal different than being completely restorative.
After all, how many times do we come back from the big fancy vacation and say I need a vacation from my vacation?
The chance to actually relax
A vacation actually filled with rest that moves at a slow pace is what many of us in constantly connected work and life need.
But it still requires being intentional to gain the full restorative power. You’ll want to get errands, major chores, and some of this other non-glamorous stuff done outside of your PTO time.
That way you’re freed up for family time, to read, to go on mid-morning walks, explore your hobbies, a visit to that small town, a new place in nature nearby, time to let your mind wander and think, or other activities that bring you joy.
Prioritize what slows things down around you and is restorative. All the things you talk about wanting to do during the week when it’s less busy out. This is your chance!
The key is finding a balance between a travel vacation in the traditional sense and a vacation from work and day-to-day stressors by staying in your area. Both are wonderful but serve different purposes.
Schedule restorative time to turn life down a few notches.
Hi, I’m Grant. I write the weekly Sustain newsletter about how to prevent burnout from work based on research and my own experience. It’s a fresh approach called Holistic Burnout Prevention which treats the causes, not the symptoms of burnout. Join me and let’s create a world without burnout. Subscribe >
