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Often when I take PTO from work I go into “low power mode” … I’m not working … but I’m also not not working. I’m glancing at my email even if I’m not handling it, I’m responding to Slack messages like text messages, I actually sit down at my computer and knock a few things out.

On one hand, this low power mode during time off curbs some anxiety. It keeps me on top of my inbox and reassures me that shit isn’t hitting the fan.

A lot of my coworkers have a worse tendency than I do to work during time off. I lean towards “oh, I think I’m going to do a little work” and then get caught up not being at work. And then I feel guilty for not working. On my time off.

As head of HR, I know I need to set an example (with the rest of the leadership team) that time off is time off. Visibly working when you’re on PTO sets the standard in the culture. Leadership doing it has a lot of power. Leadership not speaking up when employees do it sends a message. Balancing work and life isn’t a recruiting line, it’s an intentional practice.

Some days, I need more practice. I say that I live an integrated life. To me, that means I’m the same person in- and outside of work. I have Spider-Man bedsheets at home and Spider-Man toys (I can’t believe I had to write the plural, but I have at least three of them) in my office. It also means that I let my personal time cut into my work time and I let my work time cut into my personal time. Honestly, I think I’ve struck a pretty good balance lately.

Maybe it’s not a big deal to spend some time working on a vacation day if I’m okay with the vice versa.

The visibility is the rub. If I’m going to do some work on vacation days, it shouldn’t be visible work. I don’t want to set that example. When I first started out I’d send emails in the evenings or over the weekend or from my vacation. I was okay with people knowing I was working; I wanted people to know that I was working. Hustle. Work ethic. Look! It’s a habit I’ve consciously had to break.

Work is about results, not busyness. Results are about planning and productivity and rest. It’s rarely an issue with the number of hours in a day.

Today I am on PTO and I am not working. Even though part of me feels like I’m slacking. My brother is in town and I took the day off to watch Avengers: Endgame with him this morning. And who am I kidding, was I really going to get any work done after that? Instead, I went on a solo afternoon hike (it’s a beautiful day in Austin).

We need to remind ourselves that to be our best selves at work, we need time to not be at or think about work.

With Love,

Natalie