Take your PTO, you deserve it: My top 5 tips to really recuperate this holiday season

The following is a guest post by Elizabeth Dam-Regier, Director of Strategic Communications, Human Resources.

Nine months ago – almost exactly nine months, to the day – the university announced that it would officially transition to distance-working arrangements. And in this three-quarters of a year, our campus community has adapted, innovated, collaborated, and worked harder than ever before to continue to provide an outstanding Wake Forest education and experience. There is a joke here about the typical length of a pregnancy, but I’m too tired to make it. In fact, we are all tired.

Burnout is an oft-heard term in academia – albeit an accurate one. A quick search for “burnout” in The Chronicle and you’ll find endless opinion pieces articulating the obstacles both faculty and staff experience with careers in higher ed. This year, however, has taken burnout to an entirely new plane of existence. This is some kind of fourth dimension burnout.

In 2019, the World Health Organization classified burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” that is identified by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy. While it may seem impossible to step away from work, it is critical to take a break and allow ourselves time to recuperate.

Colleagues have expressed a myriad of personal and professional challenges, resulting in increased anxiety and mental health concerns. Earlier this year the American Council on Education surveyed nearly 300 university and college presidents about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their institution. Not surprisingly, 42% of respondents identified “mental health: faculty and staff” as a pressing issue.

In a typical year (what does “typical” even mean these days), many of our colleagues would be enjoying winter break with exciting activities – perhaps celebrating with friends or traveling to see extended family. But, with COVID-19 cases on the rise, many folks are likely anticipating disruptions to cherished traditions. This season will be more isolated than usual and the desire to fill the void with cookies and catching up on work will be tempting.

While I wholeheartedly endorse the cookies, taking purposeful time away from work is critical for avoiding burnout. The Chronicle provides excellent suggestions for having a restorative holiday break during the pandemic, including using this time away to enjoy a digital detox, embark on a challenge, and rejoice in spite of the imperfections caused by the pandemic.

Here are my top tips – from one Wake Forester to another – for unplugging and resting this winter break:

1. Leave great notes (with this template) for team members covering your area.
2. Use the out of office calendar feature to automatically decline meetings while you’re out.
3. Use the snooze emails feature to put key emails at the top of your inbox upon your return.
4. Turn off notifications on your mobile device for your email and calendar.
5. Draft a clear out of office message, like this one:

I am currently out of the office until [return date] and not responding to email and voice messages. Please reach out to the following colleagues in my absence.

• Topic: Name, email, phone
• Topic: Name, email, phone
• Topic: Name, email, phone

Otherwise, please send me a follow-up email on [date of return to the office].

To really take quality time off requires the help of a supportive supervisor and team. Individuals should work with their managers to create a time off schedule that meets the needs of the team, while still prioritizing much-needed time away. Leaders and teams should work to facilitate a culture of PTO respect now by outlining team agreements, which will likely look different for each unit. Consider setting clear communication boundaries – such as which channels are off-limits – defining what qualifies as an emergent situation, and getting clear about priorities and due dates. Some teams rely on a shared calendar to make PTO schedules and expectations transparent, while others encourage colleagues to schedule emails to send after someone returns from time away. And most importantly, leaders should be attuned to the wellbeing of their teams by knowing the signs of burnout and providing support when necessary.

So, when you can, take your time off. Leaders should encourage teams to recharge this holiday season and beyond, and Human Resources has developed this Winter Break Toolkit for successfully supporting colleagues while they take time away during winter break or when appropriate for each unit.

There are simply not enough words to express the appreciation for your hard work and dedication to Wake Forest during this unusual year, and always. So instead, I’ll simply ask that you take this well-earned time away. You deserve it.