5 Important Benefits of Taking Time Off From Work

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If you’re feeling caught up “hustle culture”, read this post to learn about benefits of taking time off from work.

We live in a society that makes it seem like you have to work constantly to be successful. Working long hours with little sleep and no breaks is often glorified!

I don’t agree with that. I think the best life is one lived in balance, whatever that means for you. Recently, I took a month off work work, and learned so much about myself and what I want. There are so many amazing benefits of taking time off from work, and I will share some of the best reasons in this blog post!

This post is all about benefits of taking time off from work!

Benefits of Taking Time off From Work

1. Get clarity on your priorities

Taking time off from work can really help you get your priorities in check. After months and months of working long hours, I found myself running in auto pilot. I was doing things because it was part of my routine, not because I really wanted to do it.

Once I stopped work and took some time off, I had more freedom and did more things I enjoyed rather than things I had to do. This gave me a lot of clarity on what I want to do. When I returned to work, I incorporated more of these joyful activities into my day-to-day life.

Time off is a great time to assess your habits, goals, routines, and generally where you’re at in life.

2. Reduce your chance of burnout

If you keep working at a mile a minute without any breaks, you’re likely going to burn yourself out pretty quickly. Burnout negatively impacts not only your work, but also your home life, relationships, and everything else outside of work.

Recently I listened to a podcast that said if you feel like you need a huge vacation from your life, something needs to change! This really hit home for me. There’s nothing wrong with wanting time off. But, you shouldn’t be at the point of misery when you finally decide to take a break. Your life shouldn’t be something you want to escape, so if you’re feeling that way it should be a reality check that you need to get your life more in balance.

I’m a big believer in prevention. It’s important to look out for signs of burnout and slow things down before you reach a breaking point. Of course, taking a big break can be amazing too (I took an entire month off), but checking in with yourself regularly and incorporating small breaks is really important to prevent burnout.

3. Practice putting yourself fist

Taking time off – whether it’s a long vacation or a few days to yourself – can sometimes make me feel guilty. Am I doing enough? Is my time away from work inconvenient for others?

I think taking time off work is a fantastic way to put yourself first. There’s something really empowering that comes from making yourself the top priority. In your career, it can be easy to put the needs of your co-workers and company over your own, but I think taking time away from work is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that you are important.

4. Gain perspective on work

I think a huge benefit of taking time off from work is the perspective you gain when work carries on without you. As valuable as you may be to your job, at the end of the day you can be replaced. This may sound bleak, but hear me out. If you leave or take time away, ultimately your boss will get someone else to do your job and life goes on. This isn’t meant to say you’re worthless, but that you don’t have to carry the weight of the entire company on your shoulders.

On the flip side, you mean everything to your friends and family, and can never be replaced. This sharp contrast isn’t something I realized until I stepped away from work for a month. When I returned to work, everything was pretty normal. My organization didn’t crumble without me. This really helped me realize that my world doesn’t need to revolve around my work.

5. Reset your focus and motivation

Lastly, taking time off from work can help reset your focus and motivation. When you take a step back form the hustle and bustle of work, it can actually help you return more motivated and eager than before!

It may sound counter-intuitive, but spending time away can re-energize you to focus on your goals rather than if you carried on without breaks. Taking time off from work is key to feeling refreshed, which can help you be more productive in the long run.

So, Should I Take Time Off From Work?

If you’re reading this blog post, chances are you are seeking out reasons to take a break from work. Hopefully by this point in the post I’ve convinced you why taking time off is important. I highly encourage you to take a break – whether that’s a few days, or even a few weeks away from work.

Also, taking time off shouldn’t be a one-time thing. Consider ways to regularly take time away from work. Can you leave your work phone at the office? Or can you make rules about not answering emails within certain time frames? Can you commit to one day off each month, or schedule a few weeks off at the start of the year?

The right strategies will look different for everyone, but we all need time away from work to thrive and grow in all aspects of our lives. I encourage you to prioritize yourself in a culture that heavily emphasizes hustling 24/7. I hope you found this blog post helpful!

This post was all about benefits if taking time off from work!

5 Important Benefits of Taking Time Off From Work