No Excuses. Take Your Vacation!

As we near the end of the summer season, I have one request for those of you who have not already done so. Take. Your. Vacation.

According to a March report by the Pew Research Center , 48 percent – less than half – of U.S. workers take all of their paid time off. And that’s despite the average American company giving its employees 10 paid days off a year, not including holidays and sick days.

What’s really a shame is that people often cite workload as a barrier to taking their vacation. While I understand there are times we need to go above and beyond to get the job done, allowing that to become the rule rather than the exception is counterproductive.

Consider these fun facts.

Kevin Systrom came up with the idea for Instagram strolling on a beach in Baja California. Lin-Manuel Miranda conceived of the award-winning musical Hamilton lying on a hammock in Mexico. And inventor Norman Joseph Woodland sketched the outline for the UPC code in the sand of a Miami beach.

Recognize the pattern? All are big and innovative ideas born at times of rest.

I can see how this happens. I may not invent the Flux Capacitor while away, but I do have some great moments of clarity. While on vacation, I like to read and run, which helps clear my mind and spot obstacles to growth or insight. Taking that break and engaging with nature allows me to see most challenges from a new perspective. Bringing that clarity back to the team and ideating on that different viewpoint often creates innovation.

If you’re having a hard time breaking away from the office, my advice is this: ?

Reframe the benefit. By allowing yourself to rest and recharge, you can be the most creative and productive version of yourself, whether that’s at home or at work. If you have a hard time doing it for yourself, do it for your friends, your family, your team!

No excuses. It’s your time, so use it. There’s no reward for not using your paid time off. Work will always be there with another program milestone to hit, report to write, or meeting to attend, so don’t let those become artificial barriers to your vacation.

Go all in. Put your iPhone and laptop away. Don’t spend the first few days of vacation following up and then the last few days catching up. Learn to appreciate the moments you have in your life journey.

At Lockheed Martin , most new employees can expect 3 to 6 weeks of time off, which includes a mix of paid time off that can be taken for any reason and holiday time. This summer, I took a solid 10 days off (including weekends) to disengage, reconnect with the family, and get back a little balance and perspective by doing things I enjoy – running, eating, and seeing some of the world.

I may not be ready to invent the Flux Capacitor, but I do feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the challenges ahead.

So, no excuses, what are your vacation plans??