Why Taking Time Off Makes Me a Better Employee

“Without stepping away, even work we like becomes heavy.”

For a long time, I believed that loving your work meant pushing through, staying available, and powering forward. Paid time off (PTO) felt like something you earned after everything else was done. Over the years, I have learned something different. Stepping away is not a reward for good work. It is often what makes good work possible.

My husband and I took a three day weekend near Cancun to “thaw out” as I like to say and get a recharge before the busy holidays. Earlier in my career, I always traveled everywhere with my work laptop. I would spend mornings at hotel lobby working through emails and checking in on projects for a couple hours each day while friends relaxed on the beach. I remember once telling a close friend that I looked forward to the day I would have a job that did not require me to travel with my computer. She smiled and said, “Let’s be honest. I think you’ll always have a job that travels with your laptop.”

Sure enough, on this trip I brought my computer (just in case) but I never opened it! Prior to leaving, I setup coverage among my team members. While away, I would occasionally do a rapid email triage from my phone to make sure there wasn’t anything urgent. Thankfully, everything seem to be covered.

Today, I’ll work a half day, then take time off from Christmas through the New Year. I plan to enjoy holiday traditions and I look forward to a visit from my sister’s family this weekend. I’ll still check email occasionally and find a few windows for year-end performance reviews and 2026 planning, but overall I’m being intentional about resting and resetting. When I return, I expect to feel clearer, more energized, and more focused.

Joy at work depends as much on a sustainable pace as on the role or tasks themselves. Without stepping away, even work we like becomes heavy. Taking time off preserves our creativity and joy and models boundaries to our colleagues, especially those who work for us. In summary, taking time off shouldn’t be regarded as disengagement but rather as an investment in your long-term capacity.

This post is part of the ongoing series inspired by The Four Facets of Better Living: physical wellness, personal relationships, professional purpose, and prosperity habits. These themes are woven throughout the Resilience for Progress framework. If you are interested in learning more or would like to be notified about a future retreat, visit the Contact Me form to share your interest.