Whether you are in corporate world or in full-time entrepreneurship, taking extended time off from work can be a very difficult thing to do. When I worked in corporate, I really struggled to ask for time off with fear of being “less than” compared to other employees. In this blog post, I want to provide some insightful tips to productively take time off from work, because it’s so needed!
What is paid time off
If you are new to the corporate world as I once was, this is one of those things you really need to be clear about.
Sometimes, your PTO amount can be negotiated in the terms of your offer letter once received from an employer. It really is an important piece of being a working individual!
Paid time off is essentially the amount of working days you can have off while also being paid your normal salaried amount. Most full-time jobs will offer some sort of paid time off but the amount will vary based on experience levels, employer, or duration of work at a company.
It’s not always something that comfortable to talk about, but your paid time off can be a big game-changer when it comes to holiday seasons and what holidays are observed to be paid.
How to ask a day off from work
When it’s time to ask to use your paid time away from work, this process will vary by company policy. Sometimes, you’ll be required to give a notice of x amount of days before you take your time off. For others, you may not be required to give any notice at all. There are even scenarios where employees have “flex time” meaning they will be guaranteed any amount of days as long as they clear it with their manager first.
For a standard corporate job, I’d follow these guidelines:
- Determine when you’d need to take time off and how many working days that will be
- Immediately speak to your manager about the dates you are thinking of asking off
- Ask your manager what you can do to make it easier for them or other team members while you are gone
If you work in a non-corporate setting, this can look completely different! Either way, it’s crucial that you actually enjoy your time off. So, let’s discuss how to have a good time off.
How to have a good time off
Throughout the rest of this post, I wanted to cover ways to actually have a good time away from work. If you’ve been in the workplace for a short amount of time, you know that taking time off can be stressful and something you end up worrying about.
Is it okay that I’m stepping away?
What will my coworkers do without me there?
In the end, taking time away from work is essential to harboring a healthy work-life balance. Most employers will provide around 21 days a year of paid time off and I encourage you to use all of it!
To have a great time off, you’ll need to:
- Take time away from technology
- Spend time with family and go on vacation
- Practice activities you love doing
Now, let’s dive into each of them below and tips on how to really hone into your paid time off.
1. Taking time off from technology
If you are in entrepreneurship, this one is especially important for you!
As an agency owner, most of my business functions off of technology: computers, laptops, phones, social media and more. So, when I take time off, I really try to take time away from these devices to really “unplug”.
In corporate world, it’s equally important to “unplug” from technology to take advantage of your time off. You are likely working from a computer all day, too!
To do this, here’s a few suggestions:
- Leave your tech in your office!
- Turn on do not disturb for all work-related applications
- Set screen time limits
- Tie up all work-related items prior to your time off
2. Spend 1:1 time with husband, family or friends
To really enjoy my time off, I always like to surround myself with people I love! For me, that’s my husband Luke, my family members or friends.
Oftentimes, people think that paid time off has to be this large, extravagant trip to a country or sitting by the beach. However, that’s not always the case!
Sometimes, the cure for our work-life balance is to simply be around people who know us as humans versus working individuals.
Here are a few ways you can focus on spending time with people who know you on a human level:
- Go for lunch with a friend
- Ask your mom over to your house to reorganize your bedroom
- Spend an uninterrupted day-date with your husband or partner
And, as a hot tip, I recommend having your phone on do not disturb to really hone into this time you have with these individuals!
3. Practice activities you love doing.
Last but not least, spend your time off practicing activities you love to do. This could range from multiple different things:
- Traveling
- Painting
- Gardening
- Reading
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Binge watching Netflix
Whatever activity it is for you, spend your time doing it! When we are hard at work, we often neglect the activities that fuel our personal cup up. For me, when I’m in a really busy season, I find myself never having time to read or watch TV.
So, when I have time off, I dedicate time to sit down and actually do these activities!
Conclusion
If you are preparing to take some paid time off, consider practicing these three tips to make the best use of your time. There’s nothing worse than taking time away from work and coming back to work to only feel more overwhelmed and that you didn’t take advantage of the time spent.
Having a healthy work-life balance is key to being happy and satisfied at your job. When you need more tips, follow us on Instagram!
