Take time off

✈️ We are at our best when we are renewed and refreshed, have time to reconnect with loved ones, and are inspired by new experiences.

Hello again. I’m back. Thanks for understanding while I took a week off from

Bryce's Blog

. I hope you’ve had a good week?

Today I want to focus on two things:

1. Value of rest and renewal

2. Give you an opportunity to share your interests and help inform future issues

Oh, and there will be a media embed at the end for good measure. :)

Let’s dig in, shall we?

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1. Rest and renewal💤

Earlier this year, I caught up with a professional colleague who had just returned from a six-month sabbatical. Her story is not mine to share but suffice it to say it was a really renewing experience for her and her family that involved some international travel, outdoor adventures and quality time together.

I’ve yet to work for an organization that has a regular sabbatical program but believe time away is very important for all of us.

“87% of global travelers view time off as a basic right, not a luxury”

-Vacation Deprivation Report, 2023 (source)

Do people take time away?

Each year since 2000, Expedia has commissioned what it calls the Vacation Deprivation Report¹ to “examine the work-life balance of people worldwide.” And each year, the results — which generally show people don’t use all of their allotted vacation time — get media coverage and I find myself shaking my head.

Here is a CNN article from 2011:

Despite the media coverage, it’s actually gotten worse over time.

Here is one from Seattle-based tech news site GeekWire in 2015:

Here is one from Morning Brew-related site HR Brew in 2023:

And the most recent Expedia news release: (2023)

Ten-year high? Okay, you might say, but Expedia has an interest in getting people to travel more. Fair enough.

But Pew Research published similar findings in 2023, noting “nearly half of workers who have paid time off say they typically take less time off than their employer offers.”

Even The New York Times is asking the question:

And the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is even weighing in, advising employers to encourage employees to take time off:

According to SHRM:

Some of the physical, mental and business benefits of taking time off include:

• Increased employee productivity and creativity upon return.

• Better worker retention, since vacation time, especially paid time off, is considered a prized perk.

• Lower health insurance costs.

• Opportunities for employees to explore new cultures and learning experiences.

So please: if you’re an individual contributor, use your time off. And if you’re a manager or employer, please encourage your team to take time off.

We are at our best when we are renewed and refreshed, have time to reconnect with loved ones, and are inspired by new experiences.

Insights from Vacation Deprivation Report 2023

There are all sorts of interesting findings in the full report (30 pages). Here are a few that caught my eye.

Expedia found:

• 85% of global respondents agree vacations help them feel more positive and optimistic 

• 87% agree regular vacations are important for general health and wellbeing

Where do people feel most vacation deprived?

62% of working adults felt vacation deprived in 2023, up from 58% in 2022. Here is where people feel most vacation deprived:

If you live in one of these countries, I’d love to hear your perspective.

Time Off

Here is another interesting page from the report (page 6 if you want to see the full size version), which compares the number of days allotted and used in different places. Two highlights:

• Japan and Hong Kong get special mention for both using the most days off (25.5-26) and finding ways to take more days than allotted.

• Japanese are 4x as likely to vacation every month (39%) than the rest of the world (9%). Clearly, the rest of us could learn something from our friends in Japan.

What is your reality? How does your PTO or vacation allocation compare — and how effectively are you using it each year? If you need help or have any tips, please share.

Off the grid

As for me, I didn’t have a six month sabbatical but was able to get off the grid for a few days last week — and it was very renewing.

Joshua Tree National Park

One of my favorite features of Joshua Tree National Park is the chollas. They look like teddy bears and glow in the sunlight.

Photo by john ko on Unsplash

Of course, the namesake of the national park is the Joshua tree.

Photo by Nicole Herrero on Unsplash

Their silhouettes can be striking at sunset.

Photo by Cedric Letsch on Unsplash

And the open road, inviting, and full of possibility. “Go west, young man.”

Photo by Davey Heuser on Unsplash

2. Share your interests and inform future issues💌

Through the sheer magic of the internet, you found

Bryce's Blog

somehow. You read it — and maybe even subscribed. Thank you for that. I’m so grateful for your interest.

Last year I wrote, “Over time, as I find my footing, this blog will be less about me and more about you.”

As we embark on this next season together, I’d like to give you an opportunity to share what you are most interested in.

On the About page, I wrote:

🎯 What is the focus?

In this blog, I focus on topics that are interesting and meaningful to me.

Here are some of the themes we may engage with:

1. Better: design and usability

2. Built Environment: architecture, urban planning, and the built environment

3. Business: branding, marketing, entrepreneurship, and strategy

4. Community: how to build community as an adult

5. Creativity: writing and photography

6. Discoveries: learnings and insights

7. Experiences: travel, nature, and everyday life

8. Media: impactful books, films and music

9. Personal Development: leadership, productivity

10. Technology: web, apps and privacy

I’ve focused on some of these more than others in the first 71 issues. I have a lot of ideas still to share. Your input may help prioritize where we go next. I’ve put together a brief survey, linked below. Please take a minute and share your feedback. I would really appreciate it — and it will benefit you, too. :)

Thank you. Seriously.

3. Media Embed: The Joshua Tree by U2🎵

The Joshua Tree, originally released in 1987, is a classic and one of my favorite U2 albums. Once I started adding pictures of Joshua trees, I knew I had to include it in this issue. Enjoy.

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Wherever you are and whatever you do, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. If you’re heading out on spring break, safe travels ✈️.

Be well,

-Bryce

1. “The annual study is currently in its 23rd year and was conducted online among 14,527 respondents across North and South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Commissioned from February 9 – March 3, 2023 on behalf of Expedia by Northstar Research Partners, a global strategic research firm, responses were gathered using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels. Looking at the margin of error for the global average, a 1-4% difference is statistically significant at 90% confidence.” (source)