Modern technology has, for better and worse, blurred the lines between on and off time. We can now easily work from anywhere (better), but we’re also accessible 24/7 (worse). We need permission to unplug.
Enter the personal day. Unlike vacation or sick days, personal days allow a brief, last-minute reprieve from work-day responsibilities. (Most companies offer a few per year separate from other PTO.) You may be physically capable of coming to work, but you’re mind is one reply-all away from total burnout. Use these days wisely, and you’ll find you return to work happier, calmer, and more motivated.
Here are some tips on how and where to make the most of them.
Get offline
We spend a good part of our lives with our heads down looking at a screen. It’s the facts of life, but it doesn’t have to be the reality of a personal day. Step away from the computer! Go for a walk in nature, take a yoga class, and uncrink your neck from its usual 90-degree angle. You, and your body, deserve it.
We like Liberation Yoga in Los Angeles or Yoga Flow in San Francisco.
Get offline
How many times have you said “I really want to see that,” when someone mentions a new art exhibit or film? Now is your time. Personal days are great for culture vultures with busy schedules. Plus you can avoid weekend crowds. Get inspired in your own work, and be part of the conversation again.
We hear Judy Chicago at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery and “Hustlers” are all the rage.
Recharge
If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends and feel a little run down then it’s only a matter of time before full-blown illness takes hold. Sickness is your body telling you enough is enough, so instead, be the one to call it. Spend a personal day sleeping in, consuming vitamin C, soaking up sunshine, or getting a massage.
We reco The NOW for reasonably priced, spur-of-the-moment massages.
Image courtesy of The NOW
Recharge
If you’ve fallen into the rut of daily living, try switching it up. It’s as simple as taking a new route on your morning run, or hitting up a coffee shop in another neighborhood. Stepping outside of comfort zones and seeing fresh scenery can heighten creativity and lead to more innovative thinking.
We love Tartine in L.A. and S.F., or Grand Central Market for a diverse taste of L.A.’s best eats.
Images courtesy of Tartine
Don’t feel guilty
Use personal days strategically (if possible, of course things pop up that are unavoidable) and you won’t spend them answering emails or feeling guilty that you’re missing a big presentation. Once you do commit to taking the day off, really take it off.
We say treat yourself to a day/night at Huntley Hotel in LA or The Bacara in Santa Barbara (we’ll fly you there).
