With the summer holidays in full swing, this is your friendly nudge to take a proper break.
This month: Take a Break!
We say it every year – and yet, how many of us actually do it? A recent stat caught my eye: only 58% of lawyers take their full annual leave, even though a third have between 26 and 30 days in their holiday allowance. That’s a lot of unused rest!
When I was a young professional, I remember how hard it was to actually take time off. School holidays seemed unofficially reserved for parents, and outside of that – well, it was always a “busy period”, wasn’t it?
Then you become a parent, and the juggle continues. Everyone’s trying to book the same weeks off, and it becomes a logistical game of annual leave Tetris!
But here’s the thing: sometimes you just have to put the holiday in the diary and protect it like a court date. No last-minute cancellations. No “I’ll just check emails.” It’s vital. Without proper rest, we end up running on fumes – and how often have you heard of someone falling ill the moment they finally stop? Holiday leave is there for a reason: to refresh, recharge, and refocus.
And if you really can’t get away this summer? Treat your weekend like a mini-break. Get the chores done in the week and pretend your home is a holiday cottage. Go somewhere nearby you’ve never explored before. Be a tourist in your own town.
Here’s a bonus tip: the best cure for post-holiday blues? Book your next one. Even better – start designing a life you don’t need a break from!
Work will still be there when you return – but you will feel clearer, calmer, and more in control. And if you don’t? Well, maybe that’s something we can talk about!
