Dear Property Managers, Take A Vacation

We've all done it. Neglected a me-day to get our unread messages in the inbox zeroed out or to ensure our employees don't sink all the companies assets on a catering order from Chipotle. Here's the thing though, are we really helping the problem by sticking around and putting off that trip we've been planning to the Uyuni Salt flats, Zhangye Danxia, Vadhoo Island, or the Longaberger in Newark. That last one was a test, if you really plan on vacationing in Newark Ohio you've got bigger problems than being a work martyr. Yes, Millenials I'm talking about US.

Seriously though, why are we delaying? Property managers I'm talking to you and everyone else out there who insists that "the work" won't get done without them.

"If your business can't survive your vacation you've got a bigger problem." - Jim Moffat CEO of Deloitte

Other than being a casualty of the above quote, studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between not vacationing and all kinds of ungodly things. Let's take a look:

1) Health and Wellness

Besides giving us a snowballs chance in Cambodia at having a verified Instagram account vacationing lowers depression, lowers our risk for heart-disease, helps to keep us alive, and improves our overall mental health. It's time to fire our psychiatrists who told us Zyprexa was the answer to our bi-polar woes; take a vacation or at the very least plan one.

2) Throwing Money Away

We all love our jobs, but they pay us to work for them, not the other way around. Every time we forfeit our unused vacation time we contribute to the $66.4 billion in lost benefits every year. For you math addicts that comes out to approximately $604 donated back to your employer in 2016. Our companies are not thanking us for this, in fact they should be condemning it because...

3) Innovation and Promotions

It may be the reason the company isn't thriving.

Maybe this is more correlation, than causation but regardless I think we're onto something here. Yes, you're reading that graph correctly. People who took more vacation days got more pay raises and bonuses, which ultimately if we're connecting the dots means more promotions. Lawyers, doctors, property managers, all of us in the professional world who work long, strange hours, weekends and holidays need to hear this. Happiness = increased productivity, it's not just the formula to a best-selling book, it's real. When you're happy you're more "engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive" and thus innovative. Innovation is what makes companies thrive and ensures their future. It's also what those C-level executives are looking for when they appoint their successors. Whether it's a new system of organization or a refining of the old, innovation and happiness are often inextricably linked. Bottom line, happy employees produce the best work and one way to increase that happiness is by vacationing.

4) Great Ideas Come To Us When We're Happy

Just ask Lin Manuel who came up with the smash hit musical "Hamilton" while vacationing in Mexico or Kevin Systrom who created the digital opiate we all know as Instagram. Hint: it was while he was walking on the beach. You're not doing anyone a favor by working long, hard hours and not giving yourself a rest.

Solution

The first obvious step for us is to plan something. No, stay-cations don't count. You'll be more happy if you take the time to travel elsewhere. This is because we naturally fall into habits, and in order for our brains to not grow weary from those habits we have to create new experiences. Don't use this vacation as an excuse to see your grandmother, unless of course grandma wants to go sightseeing with you at Natural Bridges in Utah. Leave the routine behind.

The second step is to leave your phone behind, or if that gives you heart palpitations turn off your email. It not only ruins your vacation, it actually ruins company culture because it shows that "time off is not really time off." This is especially true for those of us in upper management.

There you have it. Travel somewhere, do something new, and disconnect from the digital work/social media sphere. You can post the crazy pictures after the vacation is over, not before.

Conclusion

Let's request that vacation now, and stop storing up our PTO days so that we can get a payout when we leave our company and move to the next one. Take that vacation to heaven's waiting room, also known as Florida; drive the Alaska Highway; visit Yellow Stone. If you're looking to be adventurous plan something overseas. The Scottish Highlands are on my bucket list, maybe try Venice or London. The world's a pretty big place folks, go somewhere, just whatever you do don't keep doing what you've been doing.

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got - Tony Robbins