If you’ve ever been in a job you don’t love, then you’ll have done that thing where you take a vacation day so you can just stay in bed, wallow for a bit and wish you were able to boost your career.
Don’t worry, we’ve all done it.
But what if there was a way to turn your vacation day into the most productive day in your career’s history? What if there was a way you use it to improve your career prospects like never before.
Think of it as spending your vacation day investing in “the future success of You.”
Now that’s got to be better than slurping down another mug of self-pity while you play Fortnite.
Don’t worry, we’re not selling you a pipe dream here. There really is a plethora of ways you can leverage a vacation day to boost you professionally.
From updating your resume to skilling up, there are so many choices out there and we’re going to run through the best of the best for you.
So, without further ado, here are the best ways to use a day off to boost your career.
1. Spend a Little Time Thinking of Future Career Opportunities
When you’ve only got a 45-minute lunch break to proactively think about your professional life, things can be a little too rushed to make any headway.
That’s why you should use your day off as a chance to assess your situation without being rushed for time.
Assess what lies ahead, what opportunities and challenges, and then work out how to apply your strengths in the best way possible
2. Start Swatting Up on Your Industry
The smartest people spend time anticipating what could happen in their chosen field.
They spend time learning about the latest trends, what technologies are having an influence, what new regulations are being introduced, what other companies are doing and just about anything else that helps them stay ahead.
This can be done with a Google search, by reading trade press or even attending a conference, tradeshow or seminar on your day off.
3. Find Ways to Better Use Your Time
One of the best things you can do is find ways to use this day off to better use your time the rest of the time.
It could be that you organize your laptop, find a quicker commute or look for courses that can be done around your current job.
Let’s say you work in healthcare. It could be worth checking out these nurse practitioner programs online. Or, if you’re a creative content writer, looking for marketing courses that will boost your offering.
Whatever you can to make the most out of your time.
4. Update Your Resume Right Now
The fact you are taking vacation days just to avoid going to work suggests you need a career change.
To do this, you’re going to need to update your resume, especially if it hasn’t been touched since you landed your current role four years ago.
Use your day off to do this. Add your recent accomplishments, change your titles and show off your new skills, and then when you’re done, update your social media profiles too.
You never know what an updated LinkedIn profile might lead to.
