It’s okay to take a break.
Sometimes it feels like the world never stops spinning. Like you’re running on a treadmill trying to catch time but it slips just out of your grasp as you race on.
Before going on vacation I didn’t even notice how stressed I was. I knew I was always tired, I struggled to get out of bed in the morning, and I couldn’t focus on one thing at a time. All those little symptoms of burnout just felt like new facts of life. I didn’t even think twice about it. This is adulthood right? It wasn’t until I unplugged for just 3 days that I realized how easy it is to reset if you give yourself the opportunity to.
Have you ever felt guilty about going on vacation? Have you ever thought about your workload and felt bad about handing that off someone else even if it’s just for a few days? Work isn’t like school. There is no spring break to tell you to take some time for yourself, revisit your hobbies or focus on your mental health. As young adults, we exist in a culture of non-stop change and movement. It never feels like the “right time” to take time off. When we do, it’s easy to open Slack or check an email. In fact, it’s often encouraged to do so. When we sneakily check in on work as we wait in line for a ride at Disneyland, people say: “You’re such an overachiever” “You’re so dedicated” “You really give it your all” etc. But how much better can we be when we truly allow ourselves to relax?
I just got back from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and I promised myself to be present. To enjoy each day and truly unplug from texts, slacks and emails. By day three I realized how burnt out I was. I felt like myself again. I used my phone to take pictures and message the most important people in my life. I focused on my books without thinking about everything that was happening without my knowledge. I didn’t need to know. I came back a more productive, engaged, passionate, and optimistic employee.
When I gave myself the grace and opportunity to step back and unplug from my typical responsibilities. I was able to reset in a way that I hadn’t before. In a society that places value on productivity, achievement, and “success”. We need to acknowledge that sometime the best ways to accomplish these things is to read a book on the beach.
With that I wish you all the gift of time. Time for yourself, time for your friends, time for family, and time for relaxation.
Diaries of a Dancing Queen 