Take Your Vacation. Obama Does.

Comment

Comment by Megan Price on August 26, 2011 at 1:19pm

I rarely have vacation time left at the end of the year. If I can't get away to travel to this city or that country, visit with friends/family or attend a few Gator football games I don't know how the rest of my psyche would function.

 

I think the biggest problem with taking vacation is the mindset our society currently holds...If you take a vacation you appear to be a slacker, someone who doesn't care about their work or [insert your set-back here]. How can we change this perception to be..."I'm taking a vacation and don't need an excuse. I will come back energized, excited and full of new innovative ideas and I am not burnt out but eager to perform."

 

Also, be sure you take a few REAL vacations every year -- which means no email checking, no phone calls...pure vacation focus and no work distractions. I took my first real vacation last year and it's amazing how much more enjoyable it was and how I actually missed work upon its completion. 

 

Comment by Rita Hartman on August 26, 2011 at 9:02am

When you skip your very needed and deserved time off all the following suffer:  You, your family, and yes your co-workers.  Your team might need you but they need you as a refreshed and energized team player not a stressed or burned out contributor.  Take the vacation or time off even if you just stay around your house (staycation) and relax.

Comment by Sam Snead on August 26, 2011 at 8:03am

Finally taking a well-deserved one next weekend:)

Comment by Ed Albetski on August 25, 2011 at 11:36pm

Both my wife and I have had planned leave cut short by deadlines or emergency projects.  But we had to be in our offices to effectively do our jobs.  There were times when we could take leave and times when we couldn't.  The President though is still President wherever he is.

Comment by James E. Evans, MISM, CSM on August 25, 2011 at 12:42pm

@Alicia

That is a valid concern (fear of not looking like a team player). I guess timing is everything. It's just that I know some that won't take a vacation until they absolutely have to. We have a cap on how much vacation time (annual leave) you can accumulate before "use it or lose it" kicks in. That usually when they will, reluctantly, take a vacation. Thanks - James.

Comment by Alicia Mazzara on August 25, 2011 at 12:33pm

I recently spoke to a friend whose office closes for 1 week every August. It's a slow month, and she said it was a good way to "force" people to take a vacation. Vacations are absolutely worth it for the re-charge, but I think we've all felt the pressure to forgo or shorten our vacation for fear of not looking like a team player.

Comment by James E. Evans, MISM, CSM on August 25, 2011 at 9:24am

@Stephanie

......And there lies the proverbial takeaway. We are "the only one in a position to look out for your own mental and physical health."

• How we do it is another story.
• It's just important that we do it.

Comment by James E. Evans, MISM, CSM on August 25, 2011 at 9:21am

@Peter

That is a very wise campaign manager. The results speak for themselves. 

Comment by Peter Sperry on August 25, 2011 at 9:17am

The best endorsement for vactions came from a campaing manager I worked for back in the 80s.  You would think election campaigns which typicaly run 24/7 until November would be the last place for vacations.  Nevertheless, Karl made a point of insisting each staffer and the candidate take a week in August before the Labor Day kick off.  He would actually collect office keys and bar the staffer from the office and rigerously screen thier calls during their scheduled week off.  He would send the candidate out of state and prohibit any contact from the staff or press until they returned.  Our campaigns consistently had higher energy levels down the stretch and produced better results including winning several close races because the candidate blew away the opposition in late stage debates.  Its called RE-creation for a reason. 

Comment by Stephanie Slade on August 25, 2011 at 9:03am

On the one hand, we don't all have the luxury of traveling to our vacation destinations on a private jet complete with a working office, or summoning foreign dignitaries to us in the even that they're needed, or any of the other things that allow a POTUS to head out on vacation without worrying he might miss something important. On the other hand, I agree completely that vacations are important. Burnout happens and you're the only one in a position to look out for your own mental and physical health.

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