When you take PTO…do you actually take it?
Or do you do what a lot of leaders do – you’re technically “off”, but still checking Slack, answering emails, and “just quickly” weighing in on a few things?
I see this all the time with the leaders I coach. They have the time off. Their company encourages it. People tell them, “Enjoy your vacation!”
And yet they still feel weird about stepping away.
Part of it is guilt. High achievers often feel like they need to justify time off or prove they’re still committed.
But more often, it’s something else: anxiety about what they’ll come back to.
The overflowing inbox.
The Slack threads.
The decisions that piled up while they were gone.
So instead of actually unplugging, they do this strange middle ground – checking in “just a little” so things don’t spiral.
The problem is, that’s not really rest. It’s just taking your job with you somewhere else.
And over time, that catches up with you.
Most leaders pride themselves on stamina. They push through busy seasons and carry a lot for their teams. That dedication can be admirable, but it can also create the belief that you should always be available.
At some point, that stops being sustainable.
Time off isn’t the problem. The real issue is how work is structured around it. If stepping away causes real or perceived chaos, of course people hesitate to do it!
That’s why thoughtful leaders plan ahead: wrapping up key work, delegating where needed, and yes, letting a few things wait and maybe even pile up a bit until they return.
And if you lead a team, your behavior matters even more.
If you’re answering emails from the beach, your team learns that PTO isn’t really PTO.
But if you step away cleanly and return refreshed, you send a different message: sustainable leadership is possible.
Because the goal isn’t to work less.
It’s to work in a way you can actually sustain.
Seem impossible? It’s not. I’ve helped countless leaders take and enjoy their well-deserved PTO.
Curious to learn more about this and other ways to find more ease and less overwhelm as you juggle all the things?
I’m considering starting a virtual community. The cost to join would be low. You’d have access to other high achievers like you who are trying to juggle it all and struggle to feel that any of it is being done well. You’d have access to me and other experts, coaching opportunities, learning opportunities to go deeper on many of the real issues I cover with my clients, and more. Reply back and let me know if you’d consider joining, or what you’d like to see in it. I’d love your insights as I create something new for you, and those in your orbit – the ripple effect is alive and well. Let’s make waves together!