Yuriy Danylov’s Post

🚨 Watch Out: don’t miss your vacation opportunities! 🚨 As the summer sun shines brightly, the last day of July made me think about how essential it is to take vacations to pause and recharge. 🌟 I see that sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget about the most obvious things that taking time off gives: 🌞 improving work-life balance and preventing burnout 🌞 strengthening relationships 🌞 boosting well-being 🌞 boosting productivity upon return I usually take summer vacation in August or September – I’m waiting for them most of the year and I still wait this year too. My tip to make this waiting time nicer is to take regular shorter breaks for smaller trips. I plan it at the beginning of the year, making usage of the long weekends. It helps me to maintain balance between work and refreshment periods.  So, as we enjoy the summer season, let’s not forget to take those well-deserved days off. Trust me, your mind, body, and soul will thank you! 🌴🌺 Are you before or after your vacations? What are your tips not to miss planning your days-off? #WorkLifeBalance #MentalHealth #Productivity #WellBeing

News flash: Leaders need vacation too! 🏝️ Breaks are critical to boosting my resilience, leadership and creative skills. 2 ways I’ve learned to maximise vacation benefits: 1️⃣ 📸Take scenic photos. Make them your work PC wall paper or Lock Screen ✅ Every ‘vacay’ day I commit to capturing one scenic moment that moves my soul. ❌ No selfies, posed photos of family or adrenaline instilling photo angles #ForTheGram 🙄 Instead 🙌🏾 I take scenic shots or happy moments like this one of my son frolicking at the beach (at home in Tobago ❤️). 🌹 I make these my work and work phone wall paper/ Lock Screen. Why? Visuals of life beyond work help me ‘rejig’ my brain when things get stressful and remind me that there is more to life than the office ✅✅✅ 2️⃣ Start and ‘end‘ vacation with blocked calendar days😏😏 Confession: My first and last day blocked on my calendar for vacation are not actual ‘no work days’ … I use the first ‘vacation’ day to work remotely - clearing email, blocking my schedule and ensuring that I do a thorough handover. Note: this day does not account against my vacation total and I do let very key people (my boss,direct reports etc) know I’m busy BUT accessible on this day. I use the last ‘vacation’ day as a catch up day. Reading email, adjusting my calendar and preparing to be fully back at work at my best. Benefits to this approach? ✅ I start vacation knowing I’ve cleared ‘the decks’ and set my team up for success ❌ Not sacrificing work time to be ready for vacation - this creates a day to squeeze in a last few meetings. This means I have adequate time post this to prep for vacation (aka - packing and prepping my family to travel) 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Fully restarting work clear in what needs to be done and not drowning in email or meetings. What tips do you have to make the joy of vacation last after you’ve returned to work? Happy #mojoMonday

Returning to Work After a Great Vacation "Your summer vacation was bliss: mornings at the beach, impromptu ice cream stops, and afternoons lost in a good book. But now you’re back at your desk, facing a mountain of messages and emails, and your vacation joy is fading. How can you regain momentum at work? 1. Ease back in.  Expect the first days back to be tough. Set reasonable expectations and plan your reentry in advance. Leave extra time for your commute to reduce stress, and be strategic about scheduling meetings. Start with small, manageable tasks to build momentum gradually. 2. Reconnect with what you love about work.  Think about why you chose your job in the first place. Identify the parts you enjoy and prioritize them. This could be anything from brainstorming sessions to client interactions. Focusing on what brings you joy can rekindle your motivation. 3. Shift your perspective. Work and leisure aren’t mutually exclusive. Recognize that your job provides the means for your vacations and downtime. Embrace the idea that being productive can complement your personal life and contribute to your overall well-being. 4. Reassess if necessary.  If you’re still struggling after a few weeks, consider whether the job is still right for you. Vacations offer time for reflection. If you find yourself unhappy, explore other options—without making impulsive decisions." This tip is adapted from “Post-Vacation Blues? Here’s How to Cope.,” by Rebecca Knight

Starting a new job with a vacation already planned can be stressful, but I've discovered an easy way to handle this. You start by expressing your enthusiasm for the role, setting a positive tone right from the start. Then, bring up your pre-planned vacation, framing it not as a demand but a discussion about a pre-existing commitment. Offer solutions, such as beginning work as planned and then taking your trip, or alternatively, starting after your return. The key is to emphasize your flexibility, letting them know you're open to whatever works best for them. It's a simple, stress-free method that works. #careeradvice #jobcommunication #worklifebalance #vacationplanning

If your job fulfills you, why dream of escaping with a vacation? Skipping vacations willingly often correlates with having a “baby” at work. Many famous people brag about it. They say they love what they do too much to take a break. I’ve seen it myself. People so attached to their “babies” they skipped vacations for years. That’s when I saw the highest productivity and creativity. It’s similar to Netflix’s autonomy culture, which Ali Abdaal talks about in “Feel Good Productivity.” But as companies grow, things change. Teamwork productivity becomes a priority. The “babies” belong to the company, not you. You’re there to get the job done, get paid, and dream of your next vacation. That’s it. I have mixed feelings about Ali’s book. Some general advice is good, but who is it really for? Maybe there should be a series: “Feel Good Productivity” as a solopreneur, as a corporate employee, as a startup founder. Different people. Different needs. So, are you dreaming of escaping your work every day? :) Happy Holidays! -----------

It's mid-June and many of you are thinking about vacations. Maybe you're planning one. Maybe you need one. I had an interesting conversation with some colleagues today about vacations and how we view vacations today vs. how we did in our corporate lives. When I was in the corporate world, because of my tenure, I had 5 or more weeks of paid vacation every year. And given what my normal work week looked like (long days, emails late into the evening, and catching up on the weekend), I needed all 5 of those weeks. The problem of course was that I was often unable to take all 5 weeks. And even if I was able to go, it was with a company laptop and the expectation that I would be reachable (and ready to engage as needed). My friends had similar experiences. It's no longer uncommon for companies to offer "unlimited" vacation time. The challenge is being able to actually get time off - real time off, without a tether to the office. After a few years in my own business, my view of vacation time has changed. I can actually take all the time I want, and I tend to take a lot of time off. But it's because I can; it's because there are things I want to do; it's because I am more interested in family time and enjoying life than in meeting someone else's expectations. It's not because I need the break. My work provides me with purpose, I enjoy what I do, and while I like taking a break as much as anyone, I no longer feel like I need that break. People who haven't tried being their own boss tell me how stressful it is, how many hours it takes, how you give up your life for years to build that business. Maybe you're thinking the same thing. Maybe you would like to take control of your career, but you see too many barriers. But what if your assumptions aren't acccurate? What if the reality is different from what you believe? If you're interested in exploring the possibilities, and getting to a place where you don't need a vacation - but you are able take one whenever you want without having to ask for permission - let's talk. #findyourpath #worklifeharmony #vacation

Did you know that 42% of Americans opt out of taking any vacation days? Many of us have reasons like: 👉🏼 I'm too busy. 👉🏼 I can't stop. 👉🏼 I love my work. 👉🏼 I'm afraid things will fall apart. 👉🏼 I feel addicted to my work (and even to the stress!). Even when we do take vacations, our minds often stay at work. This means we don't get the real break we need. If you find yourself among this group, join me on June 10th at 3 PM ET for a live session on why taking a vacation is important now more than ever. It's time to give yourself permission to take a break. #CareerCoach #ExecutiveCoaching #ProfessionalDevelopment

(not so) guilt-free vacation i’ve returned from vacation and, as i put everything in order, a reflection came to mind: it's intriguing how guilt often accompanies the decision to take time off from work (specially if it’s more than a week), resulting from the feeling of leaving unresolved matters with the company or suppliers/clients (we even dream about the excel spreadsheets, right? 😅). however, it's essential to recognize the need for this break for self-care. each with their own priorities: whether spending time with family, exploring new places, or seeking retreats, vacations offer an opportunity to recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally. by letting go of guilt and embracing these moments, we not only replenish ourselves but also return to work with a renewed perspective, often leading to more efficient resolution of pending issues. thus, vacations shouldn't be seen with guilt (the third time i've used this word!) but rather recognized as essential elements of a healthy work-life balance. i've returned and undoubtedly have tasks to organize (a lot! 🙈) and so I will - with a smile on my face and a sense of recharged energy 🙂

I was fortunate to take a two-week vacation in Europe this month with the hubs, Deron Richens. Over the years, I've been told during time off, completely unplug and focus solely on relaxation. I’ve realized that’s not my style. I’ve learned that taking a vacation doesn’t have to mean entirely disconnecting from work. It’s about finding the balance that works for you. Yes, it's crucial to unwind, recharge, and enjoy your time off without the constant buzz of work emails. But for me, a quick daily check-in brought peace of mind and allowed me to truly relax. It helped me enjoy my vacation without worrying about what was piling up or awaited me when I got back to reality. I focused on maximizing my vacation time, which included work check-ins. If you're fortunate enough to get time off, do what feels right for you, whether that means completely unplugging or staying lightly connected. Your well-being is the priority. #WorkLifeBalance #VacationMode #DoWhatWorksForYou

Returning to Work After a Great Vacation Your summer vacation was bliss: mornings at the beach, impromptu ice cream stops, and afternoons lost in a good book. But now you’re back at your desk, facing a mountain of messages and emails, and your vacation joy is fading. How can you regain momentum at work? Ease back in. Expect the first days back to be tough. Set reasonable expectations and plan your reentry in advance. Leave extra time for your commute to reduce stress, and be strategic about scheduling meetings. Start with small, manageable tasks to build momentum gradually. Reconnect with what you love about work. Think about why you chose your job in the first place. Identify the parts you enjoy and prioritize them. This could be anything from brainstorming sessions to client interactions. Focusing on what brings you joy can rekindle your motivation. Shift your perspective. Work and leisure aren’t mutually exclusive. Recognize that your job provides the means for your vacations and downtime. Embrace the idea that being productive can complement your personal life and contribute to your overall well-being. Reassess if necessary. If you’re still struggling after a few weeks, consider whether the job is still right for you. Vacations offer time for reflection. If you find yourself unhappy, explore other options—without making impulsive decisions. This tip is adapted from “Post-Vacation Blues? Here’s How to Cope.,” by Rebecca Knight