It always seems to happen in the Summer.  HR & Recruiting professionals all need a break.   At some point you will see most everyone’s “Out of Office” pop up on their e-mail.   As Americans, we are consumed by work.  Our lives never seem to stop.  It is either work, family, or sleep.  I have been a part of that routine and from experiences I know the importance of  taking a mental break.  If you don’t stop and breathe, stress can affect your health and relationships with the ones that matter most.

It Is OK Take a Break In HR

As I get older, I realize that there are things that matter in life and there are things that don’t.  Life is short.  We don’t know when our card is going to get punched.  That is why I never take one minute for granted.  As an HR professional, it is easy to get wrapped up in the daily routine and forget about what really is important.

The pace has really picked up this year for most companies and this directly effects HR.  The recession that we have had is slowing, and the unemployment rate is shrinking.  We are truly strapped for time.  Requisitions are coming in daily and as soon as one fire gets put out, another one begins.

HR people are humans  too.  We often are so involved with trying to please others that we don’t think about ourselves.  We are always trying to please people.  We always think, once we solve this problem, it will all be better.  It never is.  There is always SOMETHING going on in HR.  It can wait.  We can go on a vacation.

Re-charging is so essential.  Some of us are single, some of us have families.  Either way, “me” time is always forgotten in HR.  It doesn’t have to be a week away in some foreign country.  It can be a day off for a “stay-cation”.

The end result of a well- rested individual means a tremendous amount to your client as an HR professional.  You can more easily help others and your attitude will be improved.  If we are burning the candle at both ends, which we all so frequently do in HR, the client grows frustrated and you grow frustrated with them.

So as the final months of Summer are upon us, do yourself a favor and your clients.  Take a break.  It is O.K.  Whatever pile of work that you think can’t wait, can wait.  People will survive without you and will respect you for taking care of what matters most- which is you.