I’ve nailed taking time off. Well, in a way that really works for me. In the middle of a citywide lockdown and with nowhere to go, I was overdue for a break and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to trial a new approach to how I utilize my vacation time. Work wasn’t the issue, or the thing I needed to break from—I’d neglected my systems for time management, organization, my hobbies, chores, and healthy sleep patterns. It was simply time to take some time for myself. 

Instead of taking the usual solid block of time off, I decided to try something different. I took five days off, worked two days, and then repeated this over the course of two weeks—an inverted work week, if you will. This proved to be a good balance for me. I struggle without structure, and sticking to a version of my usual routine helped me to avoid the pressure of not knowing what to do with two whole, expansive weeks of vacation, and reaching the end of it unsure of where those weeks went. 

At the end of my time off I felt relieved, with a sense that I’d carved out a way to take time off in a way that really suits me. Even though I didn’t do all the things I wanted when I inverted my work week, I did tackle some tasks that had been hanging over my head, as well as getting on top of all the usual life admin, and some relaxation included—a balance that had felt unattainable in the past. This was a huge psychological win for me: I felt back on top, rested, and without the guilt of feeling like I had just spent a vacation's worth of time off in my apartment.

Rearranging my work week in a way that allows me to spend time on maintaining all the other things in my life, is a privilege. It’s also something I’m kind of bad at! I’m fortunate to work for an organization and with a group of people that can support that, and who will actively encourage it. Nothing here is fragile—if someone takes time off, they’re not being a burden to anyone else in the team—nothing breaks because they’re absent. There’s also a responsibility to take care of ourselves, which in my experience, is part of taking care of those around you. We share good habits with each other by fostering those habits within ourselves. 

I find it hard to ask for help sometimes—and to ask for time off when I feel I need it, or when it might feel good to take it, falls into that category. Avoiding these things comes from old habits and attitudes. Being in an environment and with people that only encourage good health and attitudes, challenges those old patterns. 

I’m so fortunate to be able to experiment with my time and how I work. I’ve been able to pay attention to what I bring from within myself to work, and how I interact with and connect with other humans along the way. Seeing myself and my context in this way—being able to shift my focus and energy to different parts of my life, including work—really exposes what elements in my life are most consequential at any time. Balance is an ongoing process that’s shifted by the energy and focus we put into it. Tomorrow might ask something different of me, and I’m attentive and ready for when it does.