The importance of taking annual leave

This informal CPD article, ‘The importance of taking annual leave’, was provided by BulliesOut, one of the UK’s most dedicated and ambitious anti-bullying charities.

With workloads becoming increasingly demanding, it is more important now than ever to ensure that we can recognise when annual leave is needed. Overworking ourselves and not taking our annual leave can increases our stress levels, negatively affect our productivity at work, risk of burnout, and have a profound effect on our work-life balance.

Disconnecting yourself from meetings, deadlines, and other stressful situations can rejuvenate your mind, meaning you are in a healthier state when you return to work.

Stress

We all experience stress, but when stress becomes unmanageable, this can cause us real problems. The results of the Mental Health Foundation’s Stress Statistics survey showed that 51% of adults who felt stressed reported feeling depressed, and 61% reported feeling anxious. Taking a step back and having a break from our work can help us reset, control, and better manage our stress levels.

Productivity at Work and risk of Burnout

Using your annual leave can make you more productive when you return to work. Sometimes, taking a step away allows you to gain a fresh perspective, and equips you with new and creative solutions. It will also minimise your chances of developing burnout.

Research from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans suggests that using annual leave improves employee productivity by up to 40% and reduces the risk of sick leave by 28%. So, not only is using your annual leave beneficial for you, but it is also beneficial for your employer, as it ensures they get the best, most productive version of yourself.

Without a break, we can run the risk of becoming burnt out at work. 88% of UK employees have experienced at least some level of burnout over the last two years, with one-third claiming to suffer from physical and mental exhaustion frequently due to pressures within the workplace. This is according to new research commissioned by LumApps, a leading Employee Experience Platform.

Work-life balance

Dedication and work ethic are important qualities to have to succeed in your career. However, it’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly working, whether it is in the office or at home.

While yes, your career is important, however, it should not be your entire life. Using your annual leave can have a considerable positive impact on your work-life balance and overall mood by giving you more time to bond with your family, socialise and reconnect with friends, or go on that holiday you have always wanted to go on. Sometimes even having a day off to do some ‘life admin’, can be most welcome.

Some people have their work emails set up on their personal phones. This is not a good idea, because if you get a push notification from a work email, even if you do not read it, just seeing the notification may increase your stress levels and anxiety. If you must have your work emails set up on your phone, it would be good practice to turn any email notifications off when you are on annual leave and are outside your working hours.

So, remember to always take your annual leave. Our minds and bodies work hard, you deserve to take a break. Be kind to yourself, reset, and come back refreshed.

We hope this article was helpful. For more information from BulliesOut, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.