Want to Boost Your Career? Take a Break

Summer is here, and I’m looking forward to some time in the mountains—away from the office and the iPad.

Next week, I’ll be on a multi-day hike, introducing my daughter and youngest son to a pastime I enjoyed growing up—backpacking through the peaks of the western U.S. For some this may not sound like fun, but for me it’s a great way to unplug and re-energize.

I encourage you to do the same. Taking time off—especially to travel, be with family and disconnect from our devices—helps us return to work with more focus and energy. I’ve seen it first-hand here at Lilly, where we give people vacation to use throughout the year, as well as extended parental leave periods and other times off.

Across the U.S., more than eight in 10 managers agree vacation improves productivity and creativity. In our always-on work world, our bodies and brains don’t get the regular recovery time they need. That’s why, according to a Harvard Business Review article, vacations are so important for increasing our levels of productivity, happiness and success in our jobs.

So, if you can, take a break. Your company, customers and career will be better for it.