Importance of taking annual leave

For some people, life’s all about counting down the days until their next holiday. On the other hand, some people almost have to be forced to take some time off. Wherever you sit, one thing’s for sure: taking annual leave is a good thing – for all of us.

And if you’re worried you’ll look bad for taking leave, or your workplace will fall apart without you, it’s generally not true. Most employers are very supportive as it makes for happier staff and a happier, more productive workplace.

We’re leave hoarders

According to a 2015 study, Australians had around 123 million days of annual leave accrued!¹

Between the country’s six million or so full-time workers, that equates to an average of about 21 days each, or more than four weeks’ worth.

That’s four weeks to do whatever you like with. Perhaps head overseas to explore a new culture. Maybe learn a new skill or catch up on your favourite TV series. Importantly, it’s four weeks for you to be anywhere but work.

The benefits of taking leave

• You’ll get out of the daily grind – extracting yourself from the usual routine and doing something different can really re-energise your mind, which is important for keeping you mentally stimulated (and sane).
• You’ll feel more inspired – not being weighed down by emails, meetings and timeframes can give your brain some much-needed breathing space – just the thing to give you a new, more creative lease on life (well, work) when you return.
• You’ll help improve your relationships – spending lots more time with family and friends is invaluable and can be a really rewarding way to make the most of annual leave.
• You’ll sleep better – no matter what you do for a job (even if you think it’s not stressful), you’ll still carry tension around with you, which can even effect you when you’re asleep. So leaving work behind and taking time off can actually mean you’ll get a better night’s sleep.
• You’ll be more productive – after you’ve returned to the job from your time off, your productivity could actually improve – so the more you’ll get done, the more on top of things and less stressed you could feel.
• You’ll be less accident-prone – by taking leave, you’re less likely to just be ‘going through the motions’ and be more focused on what you’re doing, meaning you’re less likely to have an accident or make a mistake.
• You’ll be sick less often – by taking time off at intervals throughout the year, you’re giving your body a chance to rest, which can result in you needing to take less time off for sickness.

These are just some of the benefits that taking annual leave could provide to you. So if you’ve got 21 or so days of leave tucked up your sleeve, what are you waiting for? Organise some time off today – your mind and your body will thank you for it.

1 Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), April 2014 – March 2015