How to use flexible working options, the most easy way

I read this recently on the social media “Don’t pick a job with great vacation time, pick one that doesn’t need escaping from ”. Sounded very good and logical to me. Haven’t we all heard this somewhere or the other? Do a job that you love doing, so that everyday working doesn’t look like a boring routine!

Stress, tension, health issues are all a reality when it comes to corporate world. However, even if you land in that perfect job, the one that you love doing, the one for which you can spend hours in office, the one that gives you the kick to get out of that cosy bed, you will still need vacation. And it’s a fact. Understand it well, and accept it. Don’t live in the myth of this fancy poster that in a way implies that people who take vacations are those who don’t love their jobs.

In fact, I have known a lot of people who feel guilty taking time off from work for vacation. An extended weekend, with just a couple of leaves is fine with them, but just the thought of taking a week off to go to that much desired international holiday is like expecting them to murder someone!

Taking a vacation, some time off from work, working from home, is all about attitude. Even if the employer’s policies allow people to use these facilities, there are still a large number of people who shy away from actually using these options. They blame their manager’s attitude, co-worker’s smirks, or generally the culture of the organization as to why they are not comfortable using these options.

However, the fact of the matter is that the individual himself is not cut out for it. It takes a high decibel of self-confidence to be able to go on long vacations, take frequent work from home options and still be most loved & desired at work. It’s an art and you either have it or you don’t. Your work/productivity is the most important contributor to whether you can have this self-confidence or not. And it’s not just in the numbers, but also your own perception of your work.

Ask yourself these questions, and I am sure you would be able to answer whether you have what it takes to leverage flexible working options!

• Do you see your role/work as one of the key contributors to the overall business?
• Do you see yourself impacting the organization’s numbers of growth/revenue?
• Do you think you/your work is desired in your organization?
• Are you proud of what you have done for your organization?
• Is it very easy for you to list down your key achievements in the organization, which has been an achievement not for you alone, but has significantly benefited your organization?
• Are you really, honestly able to contribute to work, when choosing to work from home?
• Do you have the ability to plan & manage your work in a way that the work doesn’t get hampered in your absence?

It’s really as simple as this- if you know you add value to your employer, you know you deserve the time off to be able to focus on other things of your life.