To Disconnect or Not?
Hybrid Boomers, do not skip your vacations and time off.
In a hybrid or work-from-home environment, taking paid time off is more important than ever. Vacations and time off are not indulgences; they are essential for maintaining work-life balance, mental health, and long-term productivity.
Stepping away from work allows you to recharge and return with clarity. And yes, the work can wait. The company will not fail because you used the time you earned.
Why Vacations and Time Off Matter More in Hybrid Work
Since transitioning to working from home permanently, I learned that when your office is inside your home, the boundary between work and personal life disappears unless you create it intentionally.
That reality raises a common question for hybrid and remote workers:
Should you fully disconnect during vacations and time off?
For me, the answer is an easy yes (when you learn better….!)
Why I Choose to Fully Disconnect From Work
When I take time off, I power off my laptop and stay out of my home office entirely. I don’t “just check” email, and I avoid anything that pulls my attention back into work mode.
I turn off my company issued phone too!
Partial disconnection doesn’t provide real rest. As long as your mind is tied to work, your body never truly recovers. Vacations and time off only work when you actually step away.
The Myth of Being Indispensable
I know many people who work throughout their vacations. They answer emails, complete tasks, and monitor messages because they believe:
- Work will pile up
- Something urgent might happen
- They’ll miss an important update
- The company won’t function without them
In reality, most work can wait and most organizations adapt just fine.
What can’t wait indefinitely is your health, your relationships, and your ability to sustain a long, meaningful career. Besides, does your boss really expect you to work during your time off?
Take the Time Off You Earned
A real vacation is about your presence, not your productivity or availability.
Be present with family and friends.
Be present in new places or familiar ones.
Or simply be present with yourself.
Rest without guilt. Disconnect without explanation. Allow your mind to reset.
Vacations and time off are not about escaping work forever.
They’re about returning with perspective, energy, and balance.
And that’s something no inbox can give you.
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