“Take time off to give to yourself, in a sense to fill yourself up to fullness, to now where you can overflow in giving”
~ John Gray
Even when it feels hard to leave the busyness of work for holidays, the benefits of taking time off work far outweigh chaining yourself to your desk in the name of productivity. That truth doesn’t make it any easier to set that ‘out of office’ message and hit the holiday highway, so this week I’m sharing reminders to help you embrace taking time off. It’s advice I need to pay attention to myself as I head into another week away.
Are There Really Benefits to Taking Time Off?
I’m about to head out on a week-long bike packing and music festival holiday (having recently returned from visiting friends in Alaska), and I should be excited and happy, but instead I’m worrying that I have too much to do to warrant leaving at all.
So, if you’ve ever packed your bags with a side of guilt and a suitcase full of to-dos, you are not alone.
Even as someone who talks about stress, burnout, and energy management for a living, I still catch myself saying:
“Should I really go now?”
“Will everything fall apart while I’m gone?”
“Will it be more stressful when I come back?”
But here’s what I know for sure—not taking a break is way worse than breaking because you stay. Read that again.
Too many of us treat vacation like a luxury, or worse—like something we have to earn through overwork. And it’s taking a toll.
According to a 2023 Expedia survey, 49% of Canadians didn’t use all their vacation days. In the U.S., the number is even higher: a staggering 768 million days of unused vacation were reported in a single year. That’s not just missed beach time—it’s missed recovery, creativity, and even health protection.
The Cost of Not Taking Time Off
When we deny ourselves proper downtime, a few things happen:
- Our stress builds silently.
You might not notice it right away, but when you push through without rest, your body stays in a prolonged state of fight-or-flight. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, remains elevated, which over time disrupts sleep patterns, dampens immune function, and increases irritability and anxiety. Even when you’re not actively “feeling stressed,” your system is quietly fraying at the edges—leading to burnout, fatigue, and even chronic health issues down the road.
. - Productivity actually drops.
It’s a common trap to think that working longer means accomplishing more. But studies show that beyond a certain point, cognitive efficiency declines. Tasks take longer, errors increase, and decision-making suffers. You’re not powering through—you’re slogging through. What might take an hour when you’re rested can stretch into three when you’re drained. Worse yet, this overwork can create a false sense of accomplishment that masks how inefficient you’ve actually become.
. - Creativity and problem-solving fade.
When your brain is overloaded and under-rested, it shifts into survival mode, prioritizing routine and predictability over exploration and innovation. That means the big ideas, clever solutions, and inspired thinking that come from a well-rested mind become harder to access. You start defaulting to safe choices rather than imagining better ones. Ironically, taking a break is often what allows those breakthrough moments to surface.
. - We confuse constant busyness with true value.
The hustle can become addictive. Over time, we begin to equate constant motion with being important or successful. But this illusion of indispensability can backfire, leading to resentment, cynicism, and emotional exhaustion. You might find yourself dreading Monday mornings, growing indifferent to once-exciting projects, or snapping at colleagues and loved ones. In the absence of downtime, passion gets replaced by pressure, and meaningful work turns into just another checkbox on a never-ending to-do list.
An Interesting Benefit of Taking Time Off
Taking time off allows your brain to shift into a state known as the Default Mode Network—a powerful mental mode that kicks in when you’re not focused on tasks. Despite the name, it’s not passive. It’s when your brain connects ideas, reflects, restores, and even solves problems creatively.
That’s why your best ideas often show up in the shower, on a walk, or, yes … on vacation.
In fact, rest is not idleness. The brain needs breaks to function at its best. And it’s not just your brain that benefits from taking time off.
A long-term study from the Framingham Heart Study found that men who took annual vacations were 32% less likely to die from heart disease than those who didn’t. That’s not a typo—32%. Women who skipped vacations for years were 8 times more likely to develop coronary problems.
How to Enjoy Your Holidays (Without Losing Your Mind)
If you’re struggling to unplug, you’re not alone. The pressure to do “just one more thing” before you go can be intense. These three strategies can help you leave with more peace … and return without overwhelm.
- Prioritize & Park
Let’s be honest, you’re never going to finish everything before you leave, and that’s okay. When you try to do it all stress only ramps up and cuts into the rest you’re working so hard to get to.
Instead, pick the top 1–3 must-do items that will truly clear your mental runway. Get them done, then, create a simple “parked tasks” list for everything that can wait.
Example: If you’re prepping for a presentation two weeks after your return, you don’t need to finish the whole thing now. Create a basic outline and park it with a calendar reminder to revisit it after your vacation. That way, it’s off your mind but not forgotten.
This lets you leave with intention—not just exhaustion.
- Set Boundaries with Your Team and Clients
If your out-of-office message says, “I’ll be checking email periodically,” then guess what? You’ll be checking email periodically—and not really disconnecting at all.
Set clear, respectful boundaries by letting people know:
- The dates you’ll be away
- That you won’t be checking messages
- Who they can contact in your absence
Also: If peace of mind comes from checking email periodically, do so, but make sure your message states the time frame. “I’ll be checking email between 8am and 9am every day. For non-urgent matters I’ll respond after I return.” Most clients understand. And if they don’t that says more about them than you.
Boundaries aren’t barriers—they’re burnout prevention.
- Plan Your Re-Entry (Yes, Before You Leave)
The number one reason people dread vacations is because of the tidal wave of work waiting when they get back. Don’t make the mistake of filling your first day back with meetings and deadlines. Instead, block off your morning (or even the full day) for catch-up and prioritization [insert cleansing breathe here].
Reminder: Book a “meeting with yourself” the morning you return. Use that time to sift through emails, revisit your to-do list, and re-engage at a realistic pace.
Bonus tip: Leave yourself a quick note before you go with just a few lines to remind ‘Post-Vacation You’ what your top priorities are when you return. It can ease the anxiety of where to start when you sit down at your desk on day one.
Taking Time Off Starts with You
How about you?
Can you give yourself permission to step away fully? Weekends count. Every time you take a proper break, you—and your work—will be better for it.
We live in a culture that celebrates the hustle, but here’s the absolute truth; you are not a better professional because you never rest. You’re just more exhausted, less productive, and likely no further ahead than if you’d stepped away for the rest and relaxation you deserve.
Taking time off is not lazy. It’s leadership.
Rest isn’t irresponsible. It’s recovery.
And when you come back to work, you’ll be sharper, more creative, and more capable.
So set up your ‘out of office’ message, shut off your computer, pack your bags, and trust that the world will keep turning while you recharge.
You’ve earned this. Enjoy every second.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a work to finish so I can get on the road for our next bike packing adventure… and maybe a hammock with my name on it.
Michelle Cederberg, Health and Productivity Expert, MKin, BA Psyc, CEP, CPCC
Hall of Fame Speaker, CSP, Certified Coach & Best-Selling Author, DISC Level 1Trainer
References
- Expedia Group. (2023). Vacation Deprivation Report: Canadians leaving time off unused.
https://www.expediagroup.com (Exact URL may vary year to year) - U.S. Travel Association. (2019). Time Off and Productivity Report: 768 million vacation days unused.
https://www.ustravel.org - Gump, B. B., & Matthews, K. A. (2000). Are vacations good for your health? The 9-year mortality experience after the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62(5), 608–612.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-200009000-00003 - Raichle, M. E., et al. (2001). A default mode of brain function. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(2), 676–682.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.98.2.676 - Immordino-Yang, M. H., Christodoulou, J. A., & Singh, V. (2012). Rest is not idleness: Implications of the brain’s default mode for human development and education. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(4), 352–364.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691612447308
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