PSA: Plan Your Time Off NOW!

Schedule Your PTO!

How many days of PTO did you carry over or lose last year?  How much time off did you squeeze into the end of the year because you had to take it, even if it wasn't quality time off?  Or how little time off did you take because your company has an unlimited policy, but you feel too guilty to take too much?  You are not alone.  So this is your reminder to start scheduling vacations and your time off NOW.

Rest and Refuel

When scheduling your time off, it is important to understand what refuels you so that it is worthwhile. 

A friend of mine who has been extremely stressed took a few days off.  She went to a spa one day, met up for lunch with a friend another day, but for the most part, she spent her time catching up on sleep.  She also squeezed in some errands like refilling prescriptions.   

The minute she went back to work she felt exhausted.  She regularly moves from overworking to taking time off to sleep, to overworking, to sleep, etc.

She keeps wondering when she will feel better.  But the reality is, she won't.

If you save your days off until you are so burnt out that all you can do is rest, then you never get time to REFUEL.  Resting and refueling are different.  Both are necessary.

Resting is the restorative process where your cells regenerate and your body repairs itself.  Refueling is literally gassing yourself up - doing something that lights you up from the inside and makes you feel ALIVE!

We are mid-March.  If you plan your time off/vacations on a calendar basis, you only have 9 months left to take your time.  If your company policy is unlimited days off, research has shown that people actually take less days off.  Utilize the average of 4 weeks a year and plan for that, at a minimum. PLAN IT NOW!

And plan it with refueling and rejuvenation in mind.

What activities do you love to do?  What time of year are they best?  Who do you want to do them with?  Where can you do them?

Think through all the possibilities and get really excited!  

Now think through your projects, deadlines, and non-negotiable times (maybe some family commitments, Dr. appointments, or you abide by a school schedule).  

Put what you want to do alongside what you have to do and start identifying the weeks and days that make the most sense to take time off.

Take the time off and plan the thing.  NOW.  Before the end of this month.

Because if you don't, I will be having the same conversation with you as I did with many of my clients last October.  They had 3 weeks of vacation left to take, 2-4 critical deliverables before year-end, and their teams already had time planned off around the holidays, making it near impossible to take their vacation time.  

And if they could take it, they usually couldn't travel or do what they wanted because of holiday commitments, the weather, and/or other restrictions.

So they lost their time or slept through it.

It seems so simple, yet I see it happen over and over again.  Stop saving your days off for some existential crisis.  Sure, it may happen.  Deal with it then. 

Sure, the world seems unpredictable and shaky.  Even more reason to live it up now because there are no guarantees for the future.  YOLO (You Only Live Once) energy!

Take your time off and truly refuel.  Do the things that light you up.  

And then find a version of that thing that lights you up and build into your weekly schedule.

The things you do every day have a much bigger impact on your quality of life than the things you do once in awhile.  Yes, take your vacations.  But also, build in activities that light you up regularly.

I feel fortunate to have just returned from an amazing wellness retreat in Arizona with a friend.  I am excited to have a quick trip to Busch Gardens early next week for spring break (I love rollercoasters!) and European travel planned for this summer. Excitement, time with my boys, nature, and exploring new places refuel me.

But the things that really keep me feeling energized include my weekly yoga class, walks outside, barre class, and connection with friends.

I've built in weekly habits and planned my trips before the year disappears on me.  I'm reminding you to do the same.

If all you do is work so hard that you have to use your time off to rest - and there is no time for true refueling or rejuvenation - then you need to make a change.

Not because I said so.  But because you deserve to enjoy this life you are working so hard for.

So right now - think about what lights you up, plan it, take the time off, and create a rejuvenating year for yourself!

Cheers to resting and refueling,
Sharon

Want help planning your rejuvenation?

I know it isn't easy to prioritize yourself when the world is so busy and demanding.  A clear plan with accountability WILL help you get where you want to go.  This is my expertise.  I've helped dozens of women clarify their goals and achieve them with more joy and less stress.

It's your turn.
Schedule a free call today to explore YOUR definition of success.  Click HERE.

I have a few openings left for coaching clients starting in April, so let's talk before this year disappears on us.  How is the first quarter almost over already?

Life is too short to spend it feeling stressed, overwhelmed and unsatisfied.  I've helped so many women improve their happiness, well-being, and success because they chose to take one step towards the life of their dreams.  I can help you too. We will do it TOGETHER.