In my very first job as a senior cop, I saw that many sub-inspectors of police were reluctant to take their weekly day-offs. When asked why, they said that ‘they could not afford to’ because of the work pressure. (Also, they would get some extra overtime salary)
But my boss told me, “Compulsorily give them a day off. Let them spend some time with their families. Also, let them realize that even without them, the world runs just fine.”
Breaks are a medicine for your ego, not just your body and mind.
To share another story, when President Reagan was shot and injured in 1981, the next day, after his surgery, his staff told him that the government was running normally. Reagan joked, “What makes you think I would be happy about that?”
This world will run fine without Sub-inspectors. It will also run fine without analysts, VPs, CEOs, Presidents, and the rest of us.
So this holiday season, be shameless. Take a proper break. Be useless — don’t do anything.
And come back rejuvenated, and with a lighter wallet, and a lighter ego. Have fun.
– Rajan