A Message from Ujima Donalson, POD Executive Director
While summer is often seen as a reprieve, it’s also a time of change and highly focused work as we prepare for the coming academic year. That’s certainly been true in POD this summer as we’ve contributed work to the new HR website while also preparing for a number of new offerings and programs launching this fall. In the meantime, I’ve tried to carve out time for myself and my family and have supported my staff in doing the same because I know that without those breaks, we might start to crack. As leaders, taking time for ourselves is imperative. Self-care enables us to care for others—be that family, friends, colleagues, clients, or students.
Research shows that employees benefit from taking breaks, big and small. Yet a recent poll from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discovered that nearly 50% of employees in the U.S. who work more than 50 hours a week don’t take most of their vacation time. When they do, nearly a third work while on vacation. This despite the fact that there’s a clear connection between work stress and its negative impact on health.
Honestly, when I hear stories like this, it makes my heart hurt. I want to be able to disengage from work and its stressors and I want my employees to be able to do so as well. At the same time, I must admit I have been guilty of not completely unplugging on days or at times when I’m supposed to be “off the clock.” I may create an out-of-office notice for my email, but it’s another thing to stick to it.
Busy though we are, summer should still be a time of rejuvenation. Even as the months speed toward fall, we need to stop and think about what we require to grow, personally and professionally, and plan for periods of relaxation. On the busiest of days in the busiest of weeks, we can still take five minutes to walk around the block; to put on headphones, close our eyes, and listen to a favorite song; to call a family member or friend; or to look through prized photos on our phones. Consider taking another five to go through your calendar and block off some actual vacation days.
Being a leader means being accountable to many. We can’t be our best for our teams when we’re not functioning as our best selves. And we set a poor example if we never take time for ourselves and spend our “vacation” emailing our staff members or repurposing the time away from work as quiet time to begin new work projects.
At this moment, I feel excited and galvanized for the fall—and in part I know I feel that way because I have taken time for myself and my family this summer. I’m also just plain excited about what’s on the horizon for POD! Along with updates you’ll find in this issue about our new website, SLP Supervisor Orientation, and changes to SLP Level 1, we have a number of new offerings for leaders as well as staff planned for fall and beyond. In the meantime, I hope you’ll find opportunities to claim some rejuvenation and relaxation during the final weeks of summer.
