The Importance of Unplugging

In one of the many classic scenes in the film “Christmas Vacation,” Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold -- hoping for a big Christmas bonus check from his boss -- instead discovers he’s been given a one-year membership to the Jelly of the Month club.

“That’s the gift that keeps on giving all year,” says Cousin Eddie, as Clark fumes.

We’ll save Jelly of the Month club for the movies. And instead focus on a different kind of reward for our employees: the gift of time.

Lilly shuts down the week between Christmas and New Year’s, giving every employee a week of relaxation without meetings, conference calls and emails. (My inbox goes from a few hundred emails a day to virtually none that week.)

But in this age of ultra-connectedness, are we really getting the benefits of our time off by unplugging?

Many Americans admit to checking their phones 80 times a day while on vacation, and 53 percent have never unplugged. More than a quarter of American workers check in with the office every day of their vacation.

This holiday season, I encourage you to give yourself a gift that will keep on giving: unplug. Stay off your phone and email when you’re on vacation, relax and spend time with your family and loved ones. (Check out this recent Forbes column, with some great tips on how do it successfully.)

I know it’s not easy. Checking in seems like the right thing to do. But disconnecting is actually the right thing.

Research and common sense reinforce the benefits of relaxing vacations to ourselves and productivity. But if we’re never truly taking a break, those advantages disappear like Clark Griswold’s dreams of building a backyard pool with his bonus.

It’s why I’m encouraging every employee to shut down while on vacation and focus on unplugging. I know I’m looking forward to some down time with my family – and then coming back recharged for the New Year.