Americans are overworked, and it seems especially bad for young workers.
By generation, Generation Z and younger workers are significantly more “holiday deficient and burnout” than workers aged 50 and over, according to the report. Take away Expedia’s Latest Vacations study of 14,500 working adults across 16 countries.
Some say that the best time to travel is when you are younger, have more work experience and have fewer responsibilities. But these workers don’t always have the authority to delegate their duties, or they may feel the need to prove themselves while on the job. Then there’s the budget aspect of being able to travel.
CNBC Make It spoke to a number of very busy company leaders with decades of work experience on the same question: What would you say to your 25-year-old self about taking time off?
This is their best advice.
Don’t wait for the perfect time to take a vacation
“There’s never a perfect moment. My co-founders and I started building [Boomerang] when we were in our 20s. We were paying off our student loans and had no money to go anywhere. But we took every opportunity to take trips on a lower budget than we could afford. Now that we’re a little bigger and the company more successful, we have enough resources to travel. But we also have kids and more responsibilities. So it’s hard to balance having the resources of time and money, versus the responsibilities. “
You are not important
“I would say to my 25 year old self: ‘You are not so important that your workplace cannot get along without you for a few days.’
There was a time when I felt the need to be constantly tied to what was going on in the workplace. And in hindsight, I’m not sure it was my workplace expectations as much as it was my own ego that I thought they couldn’t get over when I took three days off. And that’s silly. “
Be more adventurous
“When I was young, every five to seven years, I would travel with my parents to the places where they grew up in Southeast Asia. In my 20s, I preferred hanging out with my friends in Vegas.
It took me a while to think about how privileged it was to connect not only with my family but also with my ancestors and where I came from. Those are some of the more transformative moments I’ve had as an individual learning where I come from. “
People who have problems with your boundaries are trying to take advantage
“Set boundaries and really go on vacation. The only people who have a problem with you setting boundaries are those who are taking advantage of you not setting boundaries.
In all my years of work, I’ve never said, “God, I should have worked overtime that day and skipped that day off.”
Rest every day
“Taking time off every day is important. If you’re waiting to take a vacation three months from now, oh my gosh, that’s a long time.
Vacation doesn’t have to be an expensive big vacation. It can turn off your device after hours. The break could be between lunch and your next meeting. Time off can be your dinner time with your family. Small exercises during the day can be of great help, whether it’s a two-minute meditation or a stretch. Take that time for yourself. “
Don’t work too hard to prove yourself
“I don’t want to speak for everyone, but I’m a first-generation immigrant. And often when we come to this country, we tend to work too hard to prove ourselves, because we are. there are so many obstacles to overcome. But I would tell my young self to take a break. You’ll be better off doing that.”
– Desiree Pascual, head of human resources at Headspace Health
Vacations make you a better employee
