Dying to join us in Morocco? Don’t worry, we’ve already written this letter to Your Boss:

Dear (insert your boss’ name here),

Let me begin by saying what an honor it is to work underneath such a respectable, hard-working, fair and admirable boss.  You truly are an inspiration and I commend how you fearlessly rally and lead our team, or should I say, family.

You probably immediately assumed this is a letter of resignation, however it is anything but!  I have thoroughly enjoyed the past (insert number) years working at (insert company name) and I look forward to continuing to grow and prosper here for many more years to come.  You see, this company is my life.  Which is quite the issue I need to address.  So let me get right to it and not waste any of your precious time.

Did you know that taking vacation time is vital to good health?  ‘Long-term studies in both men and women have shown that vacations can reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attack. Men who vacationed regularly were more than 32% less likely to die from a heart attack. For women who vacation regularly, that figure jumps to 50% less likely to die from a heart attack. (2010 Framingham Heart Study)’.  That’s a really hard statistic to swallow considering I never take vacations for myself.  Sure, I take days here and there for weddings or family… but a true proprietary adventure? Never.

I hope I speak for both of us that we want to keep my risk of heart attack as low as possible. Which got me thinking, what if I took a real vacation?  One that was just for me?  A soul-searching, impactful journey to somewhere exotic where I could completely unwind and return home renewed with energy and insight?

So I ended up stumbling upon this women’s only travel company called Willow & Blair.  Their intimate tours focus on self-reflection, meditation and yoga, delving deeper into a culture, and unplugging from the chaos of everyday life.  And it just so happens that they have a January tour to Marrakech and the Sahara Desert, a place I have always dreamed of visiting. And what better time than January for a vacation?  The month when the least number of employees take their time off.

But really, this trip is not just about me and my health.  The entire company can benefit from you (graciously) approving my time off. You are a practical person, so I’ll just stick to the facts:

1. Increased Productivity & Performance: ‘According to attention restoration theory, spending a little time out of the office and in nature can actually improve your focus and performance (Ann Arbor Michigan)’.  Furthermore, ‘an internal study done by the Ernst & Young accounting firm found that for each additional 10 hours that an employee took for vacation, his or her performance review was 8 percent higher the next year’.  Imagine that!  Just think of all the extra work I’ll be able to take on with this renewed zest for success! And how much better I’ll perform all around!
2. Increased Creativity & Heightened Senses: ‘Researchers Nico Bunzeck and Emrah Düzel examined the brain’s SN/VTA, also known as the “major novelty center.” They found that the more an individual is exposed to the familiar, the less the SN/VTA responds. However, when exposed to things that are new and novel, it has a heightened reaction that pushes us to explore and understand.’ My current situation is familiarity and routine, which only stifles creativity.  But if I were to experience an entirely new culture? Well then I would have a wealth of new sensory to draw innovation from.  I feel inspired just thinking of the Moroccan architecture! And I cannot wait to share the fruit of my new neural pathways with the office.
3. Fostering Women Empowerment: It is no secret that workplaces are still male-dominated and that women employees feel pressure to act masculine in order to succeed. Embarking on a journey with 14 other like minded women from around the world will afford me the opportunity to nurture my femininity.  McKinsley found in their latest report, ‘Diversity Matters’ that ‘Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians.’  Well isn’t that something!  Females should be celebrated for their feminine perspective and the diversity it brings to the workplace, especially considering it equates to better financial returns!  
4. Benefits of Yoga, Meditation and Zen:  I won’t sell you on the innumerous benefits of yoga, but I will say that finding my breath through yoga and meditation for a week in Morocco will help me be a better coworker.  Instead of reacting when my lunch goes missing from the fridge (AGAIN), I will be able to breathe through this minor inconvenience. My new zen will enable me to accept my coworkers as they are instead of exposing their weaknesses, which I am sure (insert HR person that is a pain in everyone’s ass) in HR will really appreciate.  Not to mention, ‘The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome (American Osteopathic Society)’. That translates to less sick days to visit the doctor!

Let me be frank. I don’t want to be one of those zombie employees who kills time at work on facebook or gossiping with coworkers. And, excuse the profanity, I sure as hell don’t want to be stress eating a second donut from the break room on the daily.  I want to excel.  I crave success and am looking forward to taking this short vacation so that I can return stronger, healthier, happier and more focused.  And that is the truth!   

Thank you for your time, I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

(insert your name here)

P.S. Please feel free to change the names and pass this along to (insert your boss’ boss name).  You deserve a vacation too… and when you’re off enriching your mind and relaxing your soul, I’ve got you covered here at the office. Promise. 🙂

P.P.S. Great shoes today.