In this article, we will present a list of reasons for taking annual leave. Often, we do not go on vacation because it would mean leaving aside all the things we have at work. However, we can easily do some of the work in advance or find alternative ways to cover our work all the time.
List of reasons for taking annual leave
There are two kinds of reasons for taking annual leave that you will read about in this article. Let’s start with the first list, the one that you will share with your employer:
- You have a family emergency to deal with.
- You are sick and need time to recover.
- You want to do some medical tests.
- You need to take time for your mental health.
- You are burned out.
The next list of reasons for taking annual leave is actually for you—reasons why you shouldn’t revoke your right to have holidays each year.
- To reconnect with yourself: By taking a long break from work, a month, two, maybe a full year, you will finally have some time for yourself. Time for your passions to emerge again, to watch your children grow up and chat with them, to think about what you really need and want. Many will go on a trip.
Because the discovery of the other allows you to rediscover yourself, to redefine yourself. When you find yourself in another country, discovering another world, you inevitably find yourself facing yourself.
- To become aware of the beauties that surround us: When you have time, you suddenly see the sunrise and sunset, the starry sky, nature in all its forms. No matter where you are, you realize that wonders are everywhere. Those built by men, but also and above all, those that exist against and against all: the sea and the mountains, the plains and the forests.
- To live the present moment: Thanks to the luxury of time, it is finally possible to live in the present moment! Here, now and nowhere else. No morning wake-up call, no meeting. At any time, if you meet someone interesting, you can take the time to listen to what they have to tell you.
You can continue reading your book, change direction, take another little-travelled route, take the time to watch pelicans dive in the water, you can… just do whatever you want right now!
- To get out of your comfort zone: Despite the challenges of your professional life, the fact remains that your daily life envelops you in material comfort and in the world of the known. Going on a trip, for example, requires you to get out of this famous comfort zone.
This is where it all really begins. You are then forced to focus on your strengths, accept your weaknesses and try to improve as much as possible. Fear can no longer prevent us from moving forward since we must necessarily move forward. Nothing and no one can comfort us in our fears. We have to learn and react.
It is in these moments, when our benchmarks no longer exist, that we surpass ourselves, that we surpass ourselves. You then discover another side of yourself and your world. We really live, we exist fully.
Why is it important to take a vacation from work
But resting is not only a right, but a necessity, both for the worker and for the company. Failure to do so can lead to serious health problems, from a psychological and physical point of view. Especially if stress accumulates continuously over time.
Among others, people who do not take a break from work carry memory problems, tension and even difficulties falling asleep. This lack of sleep increases the levels of cortisol – the stress hormone – and the sensation of appetite; which could lead to weight changes.
In addition, the immune system is weakened – such that employees who do not log off tend to get sick more often – and are often more irritable. Your sex drive can also be altered. Other physical consequences include increased blood sugar, migraines, muscle pain, cramps, and increased cardiovascular disease risk.
Regarding the company and beyond the disease, taking a work vacation improves productivity between 10% and 15%, because when we rest our body generates endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Unfortunately, only one in three workers manages to disconnect on vacation. The data is worrying if we take into account that almost 1 in 5 workers is at risk of developing burnout syndrome.
How to take annual leave
Many will say that it is impossible, that they cannot reduce their income, that they are irreplaceable in the office … Yet some manage to leave everything for a while. They are not more fortunate than you and they are not putting their financial future in jeopardy. You too, if you really want to, you can.
The idea is not to put aside everything that is important to you: your job that you love, your home, your savings for your old age … This break should not create financial pressure and put you in a precarious situation thereafter. Taking a long leave from work should therefore not be done on a whim.
Take annual leave by planning and saving
To be successful in taking a real break, you will need to plan and save. Two words are not so appreciated when you are used to satisfying even the smallest of desires. Yet saving is one of the keys to freedom.
But how do you put money aside when you never have anything left in your bank account? You can, among other things, make a direct debit from your payroll. So you will not have the leisure to spend this money.
Also, ask yourself about your daily expenses. The small amount spent each morning at the local cafe would give you enough to buy a plane ticket at the end of the year. Do all those restaurant meals give you real pleasure or are they just because you didn’t take the time to prepare lunch? Are these purchases here and there, new clothes, new shoes, all necessary? It’s up to you to take stock and see how much money you can put aside.
Take annual leave using the options offered by your employer
- Many employers offer a deferred processing payment program. This is actually a way to get paid while you’re not working, isn’t that wonderful? Obviously, you will have to make concessions, because your salary will be reduced by a set percentage during a certain period so that you can continue to receive pay during your leave.
For example, for 4 years you will receive 80% of your salary. In the 5th year, you won’t need to work and you will still be paid 80% of your salary. Of course, if you take 3 or 6 months of leave, your salary will be reduced accordingly.
Many believe that they will not be able to live on a lower salary, but they often forget the tax impact. A 20% drop in your gross salary does not equal a 20% drop in your net salary. The calculation is often surprising. It is even more so when it comes to a drop of just 10%. It’s worth finding out.
- Other employers offer the possibility of taking unpaid leave. The thought of being left with no income makes many people dizzy. Yet, as you plan, you will find that this idea is not as bad as it seems. Again, if you are successful in saving, you will find that a period of no pay allows you to lower your tax rate.
- Unfortunately, not all employers offer such programs. Don’t want to lose a job you love? Discuss it with your boss, open the discussion. You don’t know what will come out of it and you have absolutely nothing to lose.
Many will find common ground, for example, they will be able to take time off during a less busy time of the year. However, if you no longer like your job, take the risk of finding another one when you return that will better meet your expectations.
A successful annual leave by travelling low cost
If your wish is to travel, you can opt for a country where the cost of living is low, you will quickly realize that even if you have to feed yourself, to stay and to move around every day, your expenses do not compare in any way to those you have back home.
Even if you go to a place with a cost of living similar to ours, if you travel slowly, you will also find that your expenses drop drastically. When life slows down, strangely, the outflow of money slows down just as much.
More and more new ways to travel at low cost are emerging. You can do house swaps so that you are accommodated for free or even work as a volunteer in exchange for a bed and breakfast.
You don’t have to travel to the other side of the world either. Our corner of the planet is magnificent and we often lack the time to discover it. To get away from your daily routine, you just have to break the rhythm. You can travel in your car, but also on foot or by bicycle. The only limits that exist are those that you will impose on yourself.
Conclusions
If you open the door to a long break, you will see that the options are endless. When you have time, anything becomes possible. Really. Your career will wait. You may miss some opportunities, but more will appear. Most importantly, you will realize that your job, while valuable, is not your life, it is just a facet of it.
The world will not collapse if you are absent from work for a week, but you may feel ruined if you do not leave when you feel. Your well-being is the primary condition for a healthy life and professional performance
When you are rested, disconnected and happy, you get extraordinary performance at work or in everyday life. Just as breaks during the working day are mandatory, so are those during the year.
What is your favourite place to go for a break? If you have any questions or comments on the content, please let us know!
FAQ on List of reasons for taking annual leave
What are the reasons to take leave?
Some of the reasons to take leave are:
- You have a family emergency to deal with.
- You are sick and need time to recover.
- You want to do some medical tests.
- You need to take time for your mental health.
- You are burned out.
- A family member was hospitalized.
- You are grieving.
Why should you take annual leave?
You should take annual leave to reconnect with yourself, to do the things that you never have time to do, to travel, to spend more time with the people you love. Check if you can take paid time off work and go out there, enjoy your life!
How do I take a leave of absence?
To take a leave of absence you have to first understand how many days you are allowed to take off work. Make the request in person if possible and with adequate advance notice. Make sure there is someone to cover your workload while you are gone.
What should I do on my annual leave?
On your annual leave, you can travel, learn a new language or a new skill, read and watch movies, spend time with your family, volunteer, do what you never have time to do!
References
Helpguide.org
Harpersbazaar.com
