Summer is the perfect time to recharge our batteries and revisit our new year’s resolution. Oh, do you still remember yours? Being half way through the year, it’s a good time to recommit to our well-being if we have fallen off track. Come on, be honest. When was the last time you gave yourself a good, juicy physical and mental “work detox”?

5 scary facts about Americans’ vacation habits

At companies with official vacation policies, employees accrue vacation days based on the number of years of service. However, how we use them is quite shocking:

• According to research, the number of vacation days Americans leave on the table each year increased by an average of 4.3 days between 2000 and 2013.
• A recent article in Time magazine showed that the average number of unused days was 4.9 days in 2013, and
• Employees lost an average of 1.6 days due to carryover limitations into 2014.
• The same article mentioned that 61% of workers planned to work during their time off from checking their email to hopping on calls.
• A 2015 travel study found that 42% of Americans didn’t take a single day off in 2014.

If your company has a “take it as you need it” vacation policy, you may still not be immune to these stats. Employees chose to forego taking time off due to what’s called “defensive overworking”, primarily resulting from feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work upon their return and the “security” mindset carried over from the recent era of layoffs.

…There’s hope

I certainly hope to see a shift away from vacation deprivation for our own and our company’s sake. New study suggests that taking time off increases the likelihood of getting a raise or a promotion, and time away from the office helps boost productivity, reduce mistakes and resentment towards co-workers. Sounds like a win-win for all parties involved!

6 hacks for a 24-hour mini recharge

Ok, so lounging in your designer bathing suit on the French Riviera may not be in the cards for you this year. You can still give yourself the gift of a time out. Even a 24-hour “work detox” will help renew your energy. All you need to do is to create physical and mental distance from work. Check out these 6 hacks and repeat any or all of them weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

Here’s my challenge to you. Pick 1 or 2 things you will commit to between now and the end of the year from the 6 Hacks list in this blog or from the “10 ways for the time-strapped to quiet your mind” post for a mini recharge. Depending on what it is, do it daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Don’t be harsh on yourself if you slip up. Just let it go and try again. I’d love to hear how you’re doing so please leave a comment below.

Image by Jeremy Bishop, Pexels