The necessity of taking time off has become so apparent to me after having been on PTO for the past few weeks. I took almost the whole month of December off.
During that time, I realized a handful of things:
• I’d not really had time to truly rest or recover over the past decade, I’ve always opted to push through due to social conditioning or the inability to do so because of prior workplace constraints
• I’d barely taken any time off work, let alone any time to *actually* relax
• I’d become accustomed to judging myself strictly on my perceived productivity
• I’d not realized how tired and mentally exhausted I still was once I set different perimeters and expectations for myself
This vacation (well, stay-cation, really) reinforced how important my boundaries are and why having an always-on mentality is not conducive to mental or physical health. It forced me to reflect on how I view my time and what I expect of myself.
I told myself that I wasn’t going to focus on anything work or infosec in general, I wasn’t going to be too “output” focused, and that I would just allow myself to exist and operate in ways that made me feel relaxed or comfortable. In that time, I still accomplished things, but at my own pace. I didn’t beat myself up if I didn’t get something done within some arbitrary time I might have set for myself.
I’ve always felt very strongly about having a line in the sand when it comes to work and availability, but until recently, I hadn’t worked for people or places that genuinely understand and respect those sentiments. (Minus a few specific people here and there.) I even spent some time reflecting on this and how I’d been greatly taken advantage of in the past.
The job I have now allows me to take time like this, a “luxury” I’d never had before. Prior to working here, I was heavily burnt out. I worked non-stop, wasn’t “allowed” to really take time off, and was often “asked” (pressured) into working when I was sick. I experienced burnout after burnout after burnout with no reprieve.
I’m equally thankful as I am frustrated that it took this long for me to be able to do something like this. I think it’s gross the status quo is that people should prioritize work and build their lives around a job, as opposed to the reciprocate.
If you have time off to take, take it. Don’t let it roll over or have anyone convince you that you don’t need to take it. And, let that time be for *you*. (Or you and your family. Whatever works for your best interests.)
#Infosec #HumanTroubleshooting #Leadership #Vacation #SelfCare #MentalHealth #Burnout
