🙅 How to tell your boss you need a break.
Because 37% of workers experience burnout and do nothing about it.
By the time this edition gets posted, we will only have 2 weeks left of 2021. For most, this is the last chance to achieve and exceed our previously-set goals for the year. The pressure is on, the tension is up, and we’re lowkey panicking.
Some people know themselves well enough not to push too hard, but many still try to suppress their exhaustion. In fact, 37% of workers reported having done nothing to cope with burnout, and only 7% have reached out to a mental health professional.
This surely will not benefit employees nor employers.
Why it’s hard to take time-offs
Back in school, we probably envied adults who got to have day-offs as a part of their job. Truth be told, there are more weighing factors that discourage workers to actually practice their right to take their paid time-offs (PTO). Even when they experience symptoms of burnout, a lot of workers still push through due to some particular factors:
Corporate Culture
Managers modelling healthy behaviors will empower workers to take leave, while rewarding presenteeism will deter them. Workers also fear being perceived as inadequately committed to the job or seen as replaceable.
Lean Organization
Companies can be leanly staffed, meaning colleagues can’t cover a worker’s absence due to their own workload or don’t have the knowledge to do so. One knock-on effect is that work will follow workers even during their PTO.
Unhealthy Conversations
The conversation about PTO hasn’t gained so much traction even when demand is starting to grow. Healthier conversations are needed so that people don't feel the stigma of guilt and shame when taking PTO.
Do you relate to any of these factors? Read more about the real reasons people don’t take PTO in the BBC article here.
Breaking the cycle
Though it might take every fiber in your being to take a step back from work, know that every employee will need a break to perform at their best. If you’re one of the many who struggle with taking PTO—or even starting a conversation about it with your boss, Harvard Business Review (HBR) has compiled a few steps you should try:
Confront your flawed “help narrative.”
For those who are used to being asked for help, being on the other side might bring feelings of incompetence. Actually, it’s more likely that your boss will respect the acknowledgment of your limitations rather than think less of you.
Clarify what you’re experiencing.
Be specific about what you’re feeling, so your boss can understand the scale of how things have changed for you. You want them to conclude that it’s not just you that has changed, but that things about your work have also changed.
Take responsibility.
Things like the quality or timeliness of your work, team or personal relationships, or flagging demeanor have likely been visible messengers of your stress. Plan to acknowledge this in the conversation with your boss.
Start with a colleague or a friend.
If opening up to your boss feels too risky, start with someone else. Establish a standing set of virtual connections with friends, close colleagues, or even a coach or therapist. Step out of the internal conversations you have with yourself.
Appeal, don’t complain.
Insert sharper delineations between where work stops and starts, but don’t place blame on your boss or your team. Instead, make it clear that you’re in need of help and want involvement in the solution.
Take time to soul-search.
Make sure you use your time-off to distance yourself from your job and figure out specifically why you’re feeling burned out. Sometimes it takes extreme conditions—like the pandemic, for you to actually see and feel it.
Don’t get complacent.
One good day does not mean you’re cured of burnout. Self-care is a long game that should include daily routines to keep you centered. See the positive signs as evidence that the plan is working, not evidence that you’ve completed it.
Learn more about the ways to break the burnout cycle in the full HBR article here.
For the over-thinkers
The stigma of taking PTO is real. Though it’s not so apparent in some companies, employees will feel personally guilty for ‘laying back while their team is working hard’. Before going off grid with your PTO, make sure you:
Understand that everyone needs a break.
Give advance notice.
Coordinate with colleagues.
Clear your tasks before you leave.
Check-in (if you must).
After ticking all items in the to-do list above, you still might not be able to fully enjoy your well-deserved vacation due to some intrusive thoughts. Here’s how you can counter them:
When you feel guilty, repeat this: “My contract provides for this vacation time. It’s part of my salary. If I don’t take this time, I’m really short-changing myself.”
When you feel like you’ll miss too much work: “When I return to work, I’ll be rested and energized, which means I’ll be able to do an even better job.”
When you think you might miss out on a promotion: “This fear is irrational. I scheduled this PTO in advance and coordinated with my boss to arrange it.”
When you think you might get fired: “My boss knows how dedicated I am. I am a valuable asset to this company. I have nothing to fear.”
Hopefully these mantras will give you a clearer peace of mind as you enjoy your highly-needed break!
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We’ll see you again next week!