Vacation Pressure

Vacation Pressure.?

That’s what’s been on my mind lately. We’ve done the impossible. Our obsession with productivity and stress knows no bounds. We’ve turned vacation into a manic, quasi-competitive quest to maximize those vacation (or PTO) days into some sort of mental fitness bootcamp.?

I know not enough of the US workforce takes vacation. Each year, literally hundreds of millions of PTO days go unused. But I also send a lot of emails, so I know now is the moment that a lot of you are on vacation or about to take vacation.?

As a result, I’m seeing a lot of social media posts and emails gently reminding us of the benefits of time of: Our brain needs time to rest and reset. We will recharge and come back better and stronger. ‘Reboot your brain’, ‘recharge your innovation’, reconnect with nature.”?

The subtext? Take vacation to become even better at your work, not for a pure, old fashion break. It’s as if people now feel the need to (quietly, subtly) scream, “I’m not really taking a break, I’m gearing up to be better when I get back!”?

Just this past weekend, when my kids were blissfully napping (at the same time!), I found myself with an hour or so to do nothing. At first I thought “I should really catch up on some things” and then I thought “no, no, you’ve read the research, let your brain relax” and then I thought “well, this is a lost cause. I’m not doing this right. Someone else is no doubt doing this better!” And there we have it. Vacation pressure. The vicious cycle of productive, effective R&R.?

I absolutely agree that vacation time is a good thing, for a lot of reasons. But now every reminder about vacation is laden with the pressure that we should be maximizing that time off to reset our energy and brains, prepped to come back healthier, more insightful & productive, and basically a better person. Heaven forbid you should just...do nothing and come back basically the same (definitely even more exhausted if you're 'vacationing' with kids).

Honestly I would not be surprised if soon there’s a way to measure just how “rested” you get on vacation. ‘Check it out, my vacation measuring app says my brain disconnected 7 times and recharged 8%! How well did you vacation?’

From what I’m reading, the recap goes like this. Your vacation should be:

• Fully disconnected - don’t check an email or think about the work you have (but be ready to perform at the next level when you come bacK)?
• Extra restful - we want to see the beauty sleep in your face when you get back (so lie, if you have to)
• Rejuvenating - Recharge like a Tesla baby, we should feel your energy (or fake it, if you must)
• Inspiring - if you’re doing it right, you should just happen to solve all major problems during your disconnected, restful, and inspiring vacation

It’s time to release our expectations about what vacation is supposed to be. Remember spring break in college? That sure as heck was neither restful nor rejuvenating, and no one said anything about it. I’m not saying drink too much and stay up too late if you’re taking time off this summer, but maybe channel that vibe a bit. And for the mercy of the rest of us, please do not return from vacation and tell me how you’re ‘back and rrrring to go!’ Be a little more exhausted than when you left, that’s the sign of a vacation well spent.?

Instead of a reminder of how beneficial and rejuvenating your vacation will be, give us some insider tips on where you’re going or crowd source recommendations from your followers and those of who are getting your OOO message (bonus, add a vacation photo when you get back, I love when people do that!).

Maybe that’s just me though. But also, hey, if you did manage to find the secret to a *truly* rejuvenating vacation, I’m listening.

What we’re reading:

• Killing time at work?
• Hybrid work reduced attrition by ??
• Stop undervaluing exceptional women
• The biggest problem with remote work
• Are you searching in the right talent pools?
• Don’t let lay-offs undermine your DEI efforts
• America’s childcare equilibrium has shattered?
• Aligning your HR strategy with new employee expectations
• Motivating people starts with building emotional connections
• Is hybrid work killing the summer? Yes, but it doesn’t have to