It may feel like holidays are on hold at the moment with various restrictions and quarantines in place, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be using our holiday days.
Travel Supermarket has found that almost a quarter of Brits don’t use their full annual leave entitlement yet it is so important for our wellbeing. You’re certainly not doing your employer a favour by skipping those breaks – taking time off allows you to rest and improve your productivity for when you return.
What am I entitled to?
In the UK every employee has a basic entitlement of 5.6 weeks annual leave, which is 28 days for full time and pro rata for part time workers, however some employers offer more than the basic legal requirement. This applies to all with the exception of the genuinely self-employed. For more information take a look at the gov.uk website.
Taking time off.
Taking holidays are good for our general health and if you are one of those who struggle to use up your holiday, here are a few tips on what you can do help your self take valuable time away from work to recharge the batteries;
- Make sure you give your employer plenty of notice before taking any time off
- Once the time is booked off, make plans and commit yourself so that you don’t have the chance to back out
- Delegate work to your team or colleagues – ask for their help, they will be happy when you return the favour when it is their turn to take time away. This will help to ensure that you don’t return back to chaos.
If you are used to going abroad for your holidays and this year means that this won’t be happening, get creative. Remember your holiday days are a reward;
- Explore your local area and visit places that you’ve not been before
- Create a holiday at home – think deck chairs, cocktails and music
- Try something new – why not give a virtual class a go? perhaps pilates, a new language or cooking? Or you could take advantage of some of the warm summer days and give paddle boarding, cycling or climbing a go, if you can. New experiences can be great for expanding our minds, overcome fear and help to stimulate creativity.
What ever you choose to do with your days off make sure to enjoy them and take the time to mentally rest and return to work energised.
