Recently, I wrote about my desire to work on being less busy in 2022 and beyond. I had several people reach out privately afterward and tell me it was a topic that resonated with them as well. Seems we are all too busy. All the time. And it’s taking a toll.

I mentioned in that blog that I had planned my first ever two-week vacation. I am happy to be writing this blog from my balcony in Oahu as I listen to the many sounds of the city of Honolulu and watch for rainbows over the Ko’olau Range.

I am five days in and the anxiety of being away has finally subsided. I have not done one bit of substantive work, though I have checked emails a few times (mostly to clean out the ones I will never read or respond to). I actually left my phone in the room when I went to the pool today. I am 400 pages into the first book I have read for pleasure in what feels like years. I am fully embracing Island Time and what it means to have no schedule.

If you regularly take vacations and truly disconnect, you may be thinking “what is the big deal?” I admire you. Keep up the good work. Keep being a role model for those around you. Because statistics show that you are an anomaly.

Even pre-pandemic, Americans struggled with the idea of taking full advantage of their vacation time. We have all seen the data on unused vacation days and how difficult it is for people to truly disconnect when out of the office. Post-pandemic, the world of virtual work has made disconnection even more difficult. We can literally work from anywhere. But with burnout at an all-time high, people need their vacation time more than ever. So why is it so hard to take this much needed time off? And how can we make it easier for people and also normalize these very important mental breaks from work?

Our industry is one of daily execution. Whether on farm where the animals need to be cared for or in the processing plant where the line must keep moving and the mountain of meat must get to its intended destination (sell it or smell it!), someone has to be there to do the work. This is the basic DNA of the meat industry, and it will never change. Work ethic is rewarded, including showing up every day to do the job you have been hired to do.

Those supporting the industry aspire to the same “nose to the grindstone” work ethic. And often, by way of efficiency or necessity, there is only one person doing a particular job. Thus, if you aren’t there, the work goes undone or piles up until you return. The implication? Taking any amount of time off can feel like punishment when you return and must spend the next few weeks working overtime just to catch back up.

Now, more than ever, we need to fix these systemic issues in order to support our employees’ mental health. And to begin, we must lead by example. Take time off. Truly disconnect. Leave your devices at home (gasp!) or at the very least, turn off your notifications and alerts. Believe me, your team will notice. And they will feel good that you trust them to handle things while you are out.

Secondly, reassure teammates that you’ve got their back while they are out. Especially those who are individual contributors in roles that aren’t typically cross-trained. Knowing that I have a group of colleagues ensuring that the work doesn’t pile up these two weeks (you know who you are, and I appreciate you!) is priceless. The trust and good will this experience is building will make our team better. And they are getting to learn more about what it is that I actually do every day. I view that as a win-win!

This vacation is a bucket list trip for me — one I have saved and waited many years for — and I feel truly blessed to finally be enjoying it. But the lessons I am learning about the value of true disconnection from work can translate to any time away from the office, whether it be a long weekend or an extended staycation. If you have additional tips and tricks for disconnecting from work, please share them in the comments.

Find a way to truly disconnect

Join for free* to continue reading.