Three years in a row, I worked through Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Not just quietly checking emails or jumping on a quick call—I was actively working. Full days. Back-to-back meetings. Wrapping up year-end reports while my phone buzzed with photos of holiday dinners I wasn’t at. I told myself I was being responsible, indispensable, even ambitious. But if I’m honest, I think I was just afraid.
Afraid to step away. Afraid of being forgotten. Afraid that resting meant falling behind.
This past holiday season, something in me finally paused long enough to ask: What exactly am I chasing? And maybe more importantly: At what cost? I decided—for the first time in years—to take real time off during the holidays. Not just a long weekend. Not a day off where I secretly stayed glued to Slack. I mean a full unplug. No work. No pretending. Just space.
I expected to feel relaxed. I didn’t expect that the benefits would extend beyond the break—and show up in how I showed up at work. Here’s what actually happened when I stepped back, and how it quietly became one of the most strategic things I’ve done for my career.
The Pressure to Perform, Even on Holidays
Let’s start with the hard truth: a lot of us are running on fumes, even when we don’t realize it. In high-performing work cultures—especially remote or startup environments—there’s often an unspoken badge of honor in being “always on.” I wore that badge proudly. I thought skipping the break meant I was ahead of the game.
But all I was really doing was skipping recovery. And over time, that added up.
Studies show that over 55% of U.S. workers don’t use all their paid vacation days, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Even more striking? Those who do take time off report increased productivity, stronger job satisfaction, and better long-term performance.
I didn’t need another stat to convince me—I just needed to live the difference. And last year, I finally did.
1. Rest Helped Me Remember What I Was Actually Working Toward
One of the biggest things I noticed during my time off? My goals started to make sense again.
When you're in constant motion, even the most meaningful goals can become mechanical. You go from driving toward a vision to just driving—exhausted, eyes half-open, coasting on caffeine and momentum. During the holidays, without the usual meetings and performance check-ins, I had space to ask: Do I still want this? Is the way I'm working helping me get there?
For the first time in months, I remembered the why behind the hustle. I reconnected with the version of myself who was excited about growth, not just anxious about deliverables. And that mindset carried into the new year with a clarity I hadn’t felt in a long time.
2. I Came Back With Better Ideas (and a Brain That Could Actually Use Them)
During that break, I gave myself permission to truly do nothing. I read books that had nothing to do with work. I walked without listening to podcasts. I let my brain be quiet. And you know what happened?
The ideas returned. The good ones.
Our brains are not built for nonstop productivity. Creativity needs boredom. Insight requires stillness. Neuroscience backs this up—studies have shown that when the brain is at rest, its “default mode network” kicks in, a state linked to problem-solving, memory consolidation, and imagination. In other words, your brain doesn’t stop working when you rest. It works better.
When I came back, I wasn’t just recharged—I was sharp. Strategic. The kind of thinking that had been foggy for months suddenly felt clear. It wasn’t magic. It was recovery.
3. Taking Time Off Modeled Something My Team Needed to See
I didn’t expect this, but it ended up mattering more than I thought: when I logged off, it gave others permission to log off, too.
Especially if you're in any kind of leadership or visible role, how you take time off sends a signal. My team had been running hard all year. If I stayed online, they'd feel pressure to do the same. But when I genuinely disconnected—and encouraged them to do the same—it reset our norms.
One colleague later told me, “It was the first holiday I didn’t feel like I had to sneak rest in between work.” That hit me. Modeling boundaries isn’t just self-care—it’s leadership.
4. It Made Me a Better Communicator (Strangely Enough)
Stepping away required me to set better boundaries and communicate more clearly in advance. I had to think ahead: What will my team need while I’m gone? What can wait, and what can’t?
That exercise improved how I delegate. It pushed me to trust others more. And it helped clarify what was truly urgent (spoiler: almost nothing). When I returned, I found that people had handled things well—and some even better than I would have.
Now, I prepare for time off with more structure and intention. And those same skills have improved my day-to-day communication across the board.
5. I Gained Perspective I Didn’t Know I Needed
Sometimes we think burnout looks like collapse—like crying at your desk or missing deadlines. But often, it’s sneakier than that. For me, burnout looked like losing perspective. I couldn’t zoom out. Every small bump felt huge. Every decision felt like it carried the weight of my whole career.
But when I took time off, I remembered: I am more than my productivity. The job is important—but it’s not everything. I gained just enough distance to see that the sky wouldn’t fall if I stepped away. And with that came a confidence that helped me make bolder decisions when I returned.
I stopped over-explaining. I started speaking with more conviction. Because I had touched that core truth again—the one we forget in the grind: You don’t have to earn your worth through exhaustion.
6. It Led to Real, Unexpected Career Growth
Here’s the twist I didn’t expect: not long after I returned from break, I was tapped for a stretch project that positioned me for a new opportunity.
I don't think that would’ve happened if I hadn’t taken time off. Not because the break itself was a secret code—but because I came back ready. Rested. Clear-eyed. Present in meetings. And because I had the capacity to think expansively, I saw the opportunity, raised my hand, and took it.
One leader even mentioned, “You’ve been showing up with a new kind of energy lately.” That energy? It was called not running on empty.
7. I Finally Broke the Fear Loop
Taking time off was less about logistics and more about permission. For years, I was caught in a fear loop: If I rest, I fall behind. If I fall behind, I get replaced. If I get replaced, I lose everything I’ve worked for.
That loop thrives in high-stress, fast-paced work cultures. But here’s the truth: rest is not a risk—it’s a reset. Taking the break didn’t damage my career. It enhanced it. And perhaps more importantly, it made me realize that I don’t want a career that requires me to be constantly burnt out just to keep up.
That belief has shaped how I say yes, how I negotiate, and how I protect my energy.
According to Gallup, burned-out employees are 63% more likely to take a sick day and 2.6 times more likely to actively seek a new job. In contrast, employees who feel well-rested and supported tend to be more engaged, productive, and loyal.
It’s not just about feeling good. It’s about functioning well—and sustaining that over time.
8. I Started Prioritizing Like a Strategist, Not a Hero
One of the biggest shifts after taking time off? I no longer felt like I had to prove my worth by doing everything.
That break reminded me that time is a resource, not a reward. I started approaching my to-do list like a strategist: What matters most? What moves the needle? What can only I do, and what can be delegated or deferred?
It’s funny—once I stopped seeing myself as the person who had to catch every falling ball, I actually became more effective. Less frantic, more focused. And that shift wasn’t just helpful for me—it made my team more autonomous and more confident, too.
9. It Helped Me Redefine What Ambition Actually Looks Like
I used to think ambition meant outworking everyone. Now, I think ambition looks like sustainability. It looks like knowing yourself well enough to protect your energy so you can keep contributing at a high level without burning out.
Rest isn’t the opposite of ambition. It’s what allows ambition to last.
That holiday break helped me redefine success on my own terms—and that clarity made my career path feel less reactive and more aligned. Instead of chasing constant external validation, I started building from a steadier internal compass.
True Choice Insight
Sometimes, the most powerful move in your career isn’t working harder—it’s choosing to step back long enough to remember your value without trying to prove it.
The Break That Built More Than a Resume
I didn’t take time off hoping it would change my career. I took it because I was tired, and I finally allowed myself to admit it. But what started as a pause became a pivot.
Rest gave me clarity. Confidence. Fresh ideas. Stronger boundaries. A steadier voice in the rooms that mattered. It gave me more than recovery—it gave me range.
If you’ve been convincing yourself that stepping away is too risky, or that burnout is just part of the path—let this be proof that it doesn’t have to be. You are not lazy for needing rest. You are not replaceable for protecting your capacity. You’re human. And if your career can’t make space for that, it’s not a career built to last.
So here’s your permission slip: Take the time. Unplug fully. Let the silence reset your thinking. The work will be there when you return—but you might just come back as a wiser, stronger version of yourself.
And that version? That’s the one who grows, leads, and lasts.
