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How to Make the Most of Your Day Off
Americans take fewer days off than the average for most developed countries, and when they do take days off, they don?t make the most of them. Instead they do a multitude of mundane chores, think about the work that needs to be done, feel guilty about not being at work, or end up working anyway, none of which is healthy. Time off helps you regain energy and keeps you from feeling burnt out. Employers prefer workers who are happy, refreshed and ready to go rather than burnt out, tired and unhappy. Here are five tips to help you actually enjoy your time away.
- Leave work at work
Today everyone has a cell phone, Black Berry, lap top or some other kind of hardware that gives them the ability to be eternally connected to their jobs. This may seem nice from a convenience and productivity standpoint, but if you?re taking a special day off then you must sever all ties. There needs to be a boundary between work and life, and only you can create it. Turn your cell phone on silent so you?re not tempted by the ringing and dinging. Shut your Black Berry off. Put your lap top in a drawer or closet. Do whatever you must to keep your personal time personal.
- Fight the guilt
Fighting the guilt sometimes goes both ways. When you have a family, you can sometimes end up feeling guilty for having a job and spending a substantial part of your day at work, or having an unmade bed or a sink full of dishes. Just keep in mind that it's OK for both men and women to have a family and a job, and it's OK if your house isn't kept to perfection. When you're taking a day off, however, you shouldn't feel the least bit guilty about enjoying yourself and not even giving work a second thought. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and employees and employers alike need to keep that in mind.
- Manage your regular time off
If you're ever going to feel like you'll be able to spend your day off doing only those things you enjoy, then you'll need to get organized. Try to spread your chores around and do them during your regular time off. Do one or two loads of laundry a few times a week. Run errands in the morning before work or during your lunch break if you can, or save a whole bunch of them for the evening or a Sunday afternoon and get them all done at once. Picking up your dry cleaning or buying groceries should NOT be done on your day off. If you have difficulty accomplishing these tasks on a regular basis, then create a weekly or monthly calendar. Start establishing a rough routine that ensures your days off are not spent getting things organized.
- Plan ahead
If you know you have a day off coming up, which you usually will, plan ahead at work so that you don't have to feel panicked about the work you're leaving behind. Make sue that you are all caught up before you leave, and if possible, try not to schedule days off right before you have a large project starting or a whole mess of work coming in. This will cause you to feel anxious about your return to work when you should be feeling care free and enjoying your time off.
- Do what you look forward to doing
If all you want to do is spend a day lounging around in your pajamas and watching television, then you should do it. If you want to take an entire day and go on a massive shopping spree, then go for it. Whether you're taking an actual vacation or just need a day away, make sure that you are doing something that you can look forward to.
