Your IndustryOct 15 2014

Q&A: Take a break – and don’t pack your guilt

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Q: I need to always stay connected with clients and my managers. On occasion I have cancelled annual leave in order to concentrate on my business. However, I need to find the right balance between work and “time off”. What would you recommend I do?

A: There seems to be a dramatic rise in the number of employers and employees neglecting their annual leave entitlement and choosing work over holidays. Those who are choosing to take annual leave are working from the beach. Annual leave is an important part of your contract, as it ensures you have the opportunity to take a well-deserved break to recharge your batteries, reducing the mounting workplace stress you may be under, so that you can return to work and continue performing to your full capability.

You can be excused for thinking about work while on leave; it is a big part of your life and it can be hard to completely switch off. However, the right balance needs to be sought. You may experience that mini-panic of, “Did I send that email?”, which is not altogether dissimilar to, “Did I leave the oven on?”. In either case, the advice is the same: there is nothing you can do about it now, so you might as well relax and enjoy yourself.

Turn off your phone and resist the urge to check your emails. Set up an auto-response to any email, politely explaining that you are away and you shall not be reading your messages until your return. Your colleagues will respect your privacy and will find a way to solve problems without your assistance. If you have a personal assistant then ensure they check your inbox and delegate work when appropriate.

You do not have to leave the country to go on holiday. If you do use your annual leave in the UK, remember that you are not obliged to work just because you are within the same country or postcode as your office. Booking a holiday abroad can be particularly good for your motivation, goal-setting and time-management. If you know you are going away, then you will have something to work towards. It is likely that you will arrange to get the bulk of your work done before you are set to leave, and you will actually look forward to relaxing – giving you a better chance of doing so.

Your work is important, but so is taking time off to spend with family and friends. Make sure you take annual leave seriously. Delegate your work to colleagues and leave the guilt behind. Do something you have never done, go somewhere you have never been. Do anything, other than work.

David Price is managing director of Health Assured