Blog

Time to reset

25 Aug. 2026

By Julie Graham, CEO Ingeus Employment Services.  

Whether you enjoy stretching out on a sun lounger, exploring somewhere new, or spending family time at home, a summer break offers many of us a welcome chance to step away from our usual routines. Even those of us lucky enough to really enjoy our work can spend months planning, saving and looking forward to a break.  

How ever you choose to do it – a fortnight abroad, a hotter-than-average staycation, or jumping in the car to see far away friends – there are very real benefits to taking time out.  

If you’re anything like me, simply having a break to look forward to lifts my mood and I always have my next destination in mind. Taking time off gives your brain and body a chance to rest and reset. It improves wellbeing, from reducing stress and improving sleep, to building new connections and memories. I am therefore a staunch supporter of using, not accruing, work annual leave, and of flexing the popular Ingeus employee perk of purchasing more. Proactively planning time off is also usually on my radar, especially in advance of known busy periods. Research suggests that time off can boost cognitive flexibility on return to work and it is good for my teams and myself to be invigorated and refreshed for what lies ahead.  

What constitutes a holiday is of course open to interpretation. For me, a break doesn’t mean doing nothing and having a rest doesn’t mean being inactive. I’m an explorer, partial to a road trip or city break, and if there’s a walking tour, food, or arts festival thrown in then all the better. My longer break generally comes in the UK’s winter when I jet back to my Australian homeland, but I take every other opportunity to explore history and sights closer to my now-home in the Midlands. I also use breaks to catch up with myself, have a declutter, and sort out some life admin. It’s a good way to reset and refresh and there’s not a suitcase in sight.  

A big break?  
Not everyone enjoys, or is in a position, to go away on holiday or take extended time off, and I know for some people it can be a mixed blessing. The organisation, travel, and pressure to maximise every moment can be exhausting. The let down effect – when illness hits the minute you take time to relax – is a known issue, as is the stress and preparation involved leaving work behind, then catching up on your return. 

I certainly remember the juggling act of caring for and entertaining three now-adult children, including twins, over the Australian summer holidays. December to February stretched almost endlessly and, even with family help, often felt like a marathon rather than a relaxing use of mine and my husband’s holiday entitlement. I’m now very mindful of being in the business over the UK’s summer so that colleagues with school age children can take time off more easily. 

How to make the most of holiday season, and beyond 
Valuable as they are to many, we shouldn’t rely on holidays as our reset switch. I believe it’s important to find small moments to rest and recharge throughout your everyday life. It isn’t time wasted – it’s time invested in you, in boosting your energy, your mental health, and your ability to be your best, at work or at home. 

Make space for daily pauses: A change is as good as a rest. Avoid monotony, switch up your tasks, and try different things – audiobooks are my current go-to. Build micro breaks into your day and change your environment: take a short walk, call a friend, or make a drink. Similarly, take a proper lunch break. Research has shown short breaks to reduce fatigue, helping us sustain focus and good mental health. 

I also love to start my day with some exercise and have a strict evening ritual when it comes to screen time. I plan my workload around when I’m most productive (the morning) and actively avoid filling every gap in a meeting agenda or work diary. Downtime is valuable, whether you’re alone, with family, or colleagues.   

Plan holidays wisely: If you’re employed, use your holiday entitlement in full and when you can enjoy it. It’s wasteful to ‘use it or lose it’ as the year end looms. Work also won’t crumble because you go on leave. Be realistic about what you can fit in, and how tasks can be redistributed if needed while you’re away. Then do something YOU enjoy – it’s not all about the kids, well it might be but have fun anyway! 

Listen to yourself and others: It’s easy to get so wrapped up in life that you don’t recognise you’re just busy being busy. Or you ignore the headaches, tiredness and low mood that you simply don’t have time for. You may not be focussed, you may not be productive, and it may take a friend or colleague to point that out to you. I have certainly made that call before. Rest isn't a luxury; it's an essential part of performing at your best. 

Whether I’m at a museum in Derby or on a boat in Darwin, I love my breaks but remember, you don’t need to leave town to unwind. Altering your routine and taking time to pause are also excellent passports to health and happiness.  

 Julie Graham FIEP is Chief Executive Officer of Employment Services. She brings extensive executive experience across the non profit and social impact sectors, with a career dedicated to improving lives and delivering meaningful employment outcomes. Julie has a strong track record in organisational leadership, performance, and large scale service delivery, supported by expertise in HR and customer centred design. A Deakin University graduate, she combines strategic insight with operational excellence. She also serves on the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) board, helping advance sector standards and best practice.