Take a Vacation From Work Without Feeling Guilty - The Muse

Take a Vacation From Work Without Feeling Guilty - The MuseTake a Vacation From Work Without Feeling Guilty Forty percent of Americans leave unused paid vacation time on the table every year. Why? People are afraid of being replaced or theyre afraid of their work piling up while theyre gone.These fears are understandable, but most of the time, theyre not grounded in reality. Theyre what psychologists like me call irrational fears. They may feel true, but generally, theyre not.Heres what is actually true Taking a vacation is extremely good for you- and for your employer, too.In a new study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, researchers found that taking time off from work can boost your productivity, engagement, and overall happiness. All very compelling reasons to clock out and savor the occasional pia coladaBut even with all the facts swinging in favor of taking that long-overdue trip, it can still be difficult, at times, to get over your vacation guilt. So when you feel that prickle of uneasiness creeping in, here are a couple of guilt-banishing statements to remind you that you can- and should- take some time off.If Youre Thinking Youll Feel GuiltyId feel guilty taking my unused paid vacation time because my boss might think Im not pulling my weight. I need to keep working to prove how valuable I am to this company. Reframe by Telling YourselfMy contract provides for this vacation time. Im not violating my contract by taking this time. I deserve it. Its part of my salary. If I dont take this time, Im really short-changing myself.If Youre Thinking Youll Miss Too Much WorkIm afraid I might lose ground on this big project if I take vacation. When I come back, Ill have accumulated a ton of work and Ill have millions of emails waiting for me.Reframe by Telling YourselfTaking a vacation is healthy. When I return to work, Ill be rested and energized, which means Ill be able to do an even better job- even if I do have some work or emails to catc h up on. Besides, if there is a situation at work for which Im absolutely needed, I can cancel my trip (especially if Ive purchased cancel for any reason trip coverage).And, if I absolutely must, I can check my email every couple of days to stay on top of things. I dont need to, but its an option thats available to me.If Youre Thinking You Might Miss Out on a PromotionIm afraid Ill get penalized for taking too much vacation time. Ill get passed over for a promotion in the future- I just know it.Reframe by Telling YourselfThere is no reality to this fear. I scheduled this vacation well in advance and coordinated with my boss to arrange it. My manager said that this is a good time to take time off.Plus, to make sure nothing falls through the cracks, Ive arranged for my colleagues to cover for me while Im away. Ive told my clients that Ill be away, Ive delegated important tasks, and overall, Ive made sure that everything will be taken care of while Im gone.If Youre Thinking You Might G et FiredIm afraid to take a week off because my boss might decide that Im not dedicated to her and this company- and might even fire me.Reframe by Telling YourselfMy boss knows how dedicated I am. I am a valuable asset to this company. I regularly prove my worth. I have nothing to fear.Besides, while its highly unlikely that this would ever happen, say I got fired because I chose to take my vacation time. Would I really want to work for that kind of company? No I have strengths that plenty of companies would find desirable, and I can always find another position at a company that treats me with respect.You would never say to your employer, Hey, why dont you skip paying me this week? Im probably not worth it, anyway. But that, in essence, is precisely what you are doing when you leave your vacation time on the table, unused. Remember that vacation time is part of your overall compensation and benefits package. Its yours- claim it. Its fun, and its deeply beneficial to your happiness and productivity.Stop the guilt. Give yourself some time off. And when you swing back into the office- youll be completely on fire.