Latest news with #PTO
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Vacation guilt' is out. Here's how to actually tune out work and enjoy your PTO.
"Vacation guilt" is common among American workers, with many feeling guilty about taking PTO. Some workers are concerned about job security or about others having to pick up their slack. Planning, supporting coworkers, and micro-unplugging can help ease vacation guilt, a therapist said. Have you ever been sitting poolside, sipping on a cocktail in a tropical destination, only to be abruptly interrupted by nagging worry that you weren't in this week's team check-in? "Vacation guilt" is a common occurrence among American workers, many of whom say they can't help but feel guilty when they're on vacation. A 2024 survey of more than 2,000 employed adults conducted by the communications firm Movchan Agency found nearly half of workers feel guilty while on vacation, while 63% feel anxious if they don't check their work-related messages during a trip. But there's a growing movement to embrace PTO and throw vacation guilt to the curb: The "loud vacationing" trend, increased awareness about burnout, and Gen Zers fearlessly embracing mental health days. And there's hope for those who are using paid time off to unwind, but struggle to unplug, according to Dennis Dearie, a licensed therapist at Healthy Life Recovery in San Diego. "If a person has problems with taking vacations, that's just one symptom of a bigger challenge they have," Dearie told Business Insider, adding that there are plenty of reasons a worker might feel guilty about taking vacation. Employees might have valid concerns about job security: They might feel that if someone else picks up their responsibilities while they're out, they'll be seen as dispensable or not good at their job. Others might struggle with giving up control over their work, if someone else has to step in when they're out. Dearie said some employees genuinely feel guilty that their time out of the office will burden their coworkers who pick up their slack. They might also work somewhere with a company culture that discourages time off, leading to feelings of guilt among those who do take vacation anyway. It's important to figure out what the cause of the vacation guilt is because that will help determine how to address it. For people who grind at work, being mindful about why they are struggling to unplug could be the first challenge. "They have to stop working and think about stuff that they probably don't think about," Dearie said. He said many people who focus a lot on work tend to derive a lot of value from it. Work gives them a sense of purpose and a sense of accomplishment, but focusing on work can mean other values suffer, like spending quality time with your kids or partner. It can help to take an honest look at your values and compare them to how you spend your time, Dearie said, adding you should ask yourself, "Why is unplugging valuable to me?" If you are struggling not to feel guilty on vacation because of all the work that's on your plate, Dearie said it's important to plan ahead and inform your team as early as possible when you will be out. Delegate everything that needs to be done while you are gone and leave thoughtful instructions. Let clients know who they can contact at the company while you're on PTO, so you are not anxious about whether they are expecting a response from you. If taking a guilt-free vacation is challenging for you, be supportive and enthusiastic when your team members take time off, Dearie said. Offer to take work off their plates when they are on vacation, or ask how you can help them feel confident taking time off. Helping your colleagues take time off can foster a feeling on your team that everyone is chipping in and doing their share to encourage PTO, and it can also get you an ally when you want to take time off. "You're helping the culture in your company adjust," he said, adding that you can shift company culture, at least on your team, and help set the precedence that taking time off is OK. Regardless of why you're struggling to take time off, Dearie said "micro-unplugging" — or tuning out from work for short periods of time — can help you get better at it for longer stretches of PTO, too. "Everything we do is training our brain," Dearie said, adding that our brains can learn to tolerate new things, like tuning out from work, with practice. If you especially struggle to unplug, Dearie said you could start by taking a single day off in the middle of the week. Plan ahead and let your coworkers know what to do in your absence or how reachable you are. Maybe refrain from checking your work messages all day, or checking them only twice that day, or even once per hour, depending on how difficult unplugging for you is. The goal is simply to unplug for longer than you normally do, Dearie said. You can build up that tolerance over time. "It's like a vacation, but not a vacation, and it's uncomfortable. It's going to produce anxiety," Dearie said. Micro-unplugging can help bridge the gap between what a person believes — that taking time away from work is good for them — and how their brain actually responds. "They believe it's true, but it doesn't feel true," Dearie said of taking time off. "When they do these behaviors, their brain can catch up with that truth." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
11 hours ago
- Business Insider
'Vacation guilt' is out. Here's how to actually tune out work and enjoy your PTO.
Have you ever been sitting poolside, sipping on a cocktail in a tropical destination, only to be abruptly interrupted by nagging worry that you weren't in this week's team check-in? "Vacation guilt" is a common occurrence among American workers, many of whom say they can't help but feel guilty when they're on vacation. A 2024 survey of more than 2,000 employed adults conducted by the communications firm Movchan Agency found nearly half of workers feel guilty while on vacation, while 63% feel anxious if they don't check their work-related messages during a trip. But there's a growing movement to embrace PTO and throw vacation guilt to the curb: The " loud vacationing" trend, increased awareness about burnout, and Gen Zers fearlessly embracing mental health days. And there's hope for those who are using paid time off to unwind, but struggle to unplug, according to Dennis Dearie, a licensed therapist at Healthy Life Recovery in San Diego. "If a person has problems with taking vacations, that's just one symptom of a bigger challenge they have," Dearie told Business Insider, adding that there are plenty of reasons a worker might feel guilty about taking vacation. Employees might have valid concerns about job security: They might feel that if someone else picks up their responsibilities while they're out, they'll be seen as dispensable or not good at their job. Others might struggle with giving up control over their work, if someone else has to step in when they're out. Dearie said some employees genuinely feel guilty that their time out of the office will burden their coworkers who pick up their slack. They might also work somewhere with a company culture that discourages time off, leading to feelings of guilt among those who do take vacation anyway. It's important to figure out what the cause of the vacation guilt is because that will help determine how to address it. Be mindful and take a look at your values For people who grind at work, being mindful about why they are struggling to unplug could be the first challenge. "They have to stop working and think about stuff that they probably don't think about," Dearie said. He said many people who focus a lot on work tend to derive a lot of value from it. Work gives them a sense of purpose and a sense of accomplishment, but focusing on work can mean other values suffer, like spending quality time with your kids or partner. It can help to take an honest look at your values and compare them to how you spend your time, Dearie said, adding you should ask yourself, "Why is unplugging valuable to me?" Plan and delegate If you are struggling not to feel guilty on vacation because of all the work that's on your plate, Dearie said it's important to plan ahead and inform your team as early as possible when you will be out. Delegate everything that needs to be done while you are gone and leave thoughtful instructions. Let clients know who they can contact at the company while you're on PTO, so you are not anxious about whether they are expecting a response from you. Support your coworkers when they take PTO If taking a guilt-free vacation is challenging for you, be supportive and enthusiastic when your team members take time off, Dearie said. Offer to take work off their plates when they are on vacation, or ask how you can help them feel confident taking time off. Helping your colleagues take time off can foster a feeling on your team that everyone is chipping in and doing their share to encourage PTO, and it can also get you an ally when you want to take time off. "You're helping the culture in your company adjust," he said, adding that you can shift company culture, at least on your team, and help set the precedence that taking time off is OK. Practice with micro-unplugging Regardless of why you're struggling to take time off, Dearie said "micro-unplugging" — or tuning out from work for short periods of time — can help you get better at it for longer stretches of PTO, too. "Everything we do is training our brain," Dearie said, adding that our brains can learn to tolerate new things, like tuning out from work, with practice. If you especially struggle to unplug, Dearie said you could start by taking a single day off in the middle of the week. Plan ahead and let your coworkers know what to do in your absence or how reachable you are. Maybe refrain from checking your work messages all day, or checking them only twice that day, or even once per hour, depending on how difficult unplugging for you is. The goal is simply to unplug for longer than you normally do, Dearie said. You can build up that tolerance over time. "It's like a vacation, but not a vacation, and it's uncomfortable. It's going to produce anxiety," Dearie said. Micro-unplugging can help bridge the gap between what a person believes — that taking time away from work is good for them — and how their brain actually responds. "They believe it's true, but it doesn't feel true," Dearie said of taking time off. "When they do these behaviors, their brain can catch up with that truth."
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
APECO secures 12-hectare land for airport development
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has acquired an additional 12 hectares of land for the development of the existing APECO Airstrip into a commercial airport. In a news release on Wednesday, APECO said the 12-hectare land is located in Barangay Esteves, Casiguran. The acquisition was sealed with landowners, Atty. Edward Chua Cham and Magdalena Chua Cham, through an agreement signed with APECO president and CEO Atty. Gil Taway IV. Under the agreement, the Chua Cham family donated 5.2 hectares of land to APECO, representing half of the Casiguran airstrip located in the economic zone, and sold an additional 6.8 hectares. 'APECO's potential to do more depends on the amount of land we administer. In our continuing land acquisition efforts, we were left with higher rates beyond the zonal valuation. APECO, however, was able to acquire the property from the Chua Cham family at 50% less than the previous buying rate, which we consider highly advantageous to the government,' Taway said. 'Their contribution strengthens our capacity to realize inclusive economic development for the people of Aurora. Their generosity is a testament to the growing public support for APECO's current direction, a powerful vote of confidence in our goal of Bagong APECO,' he added. Atty. Chua Cham said donating and selling their land are their family's way of supporting APECO's vision of bringing progress and opportunities to the northeastern part of Luzon. 'We believe that the development of the APECO Airport is not just a project for Casiguran; it is a project for the Filipino people. This is our small way of contributing to nation-building. We have seen how determined the current administration and APECO's leadership are in driving economic development in Aurora. We hope that our gesture encourages others to support projects that aim to uplift communities and boost economic development,' he said. The APECO Airport is a critical infrastructure project that will significantly improve accessibility to Aurora and the northeastern Luzon economic corridor. The operationalization of the APECO Airport is also aimed at boosting investments and trade by providing direct air links for business travelers, investors, and cargo. In February 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) inspected and assessed the condition of the Casiguran airstrip. The visit paved the way for recommendations for the issuance of a Permit to Operate (PTO). 'We are working with CAAP and other key agencies to fast-track this project. The APECO Airport will not only serve as a gateway to Aurora, but it will also be a gateway to new opportunities for the Philippines,' Taway said. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The life lessons of Sam Long, triathlon's tortoise and hare all in one
A pretty weird thing has been happening these days at the races on the top professional triathlon circuit. Coming out of the water, the big cheers aren't for the frontrunners. The roars come loud for the guy who's almost always in last place after the first leg of the swim-bike-run. That would be Sam Long, a Colorado native who lives and trains in Arizona and, in most races, struggles with competing as an amphibian. Advertisement Put simply, Long, one of the world's top Half Ironman competitors and a top American on the Professional Triathletes Organization T100 Tour, kind of stinks at swimming — relatively speaking, of course. But that would be your thought if you watched Long dragging his water-logged frame out of the drink anywhere from two to four minutes behind the leaders. And then — in a reasonably remarkable display of mental fortitude, leg strength, foot speed and aerobic efficiency — Long starts picking off racers one by one, until sometimes there aren't any more cyclists or runners to pick off. He is the tortoise and the hare all at once. 'A mantra I tell myself is, like, it's not about being the best swimmer, it's about being the best triathlete,' Long said during a recent interview from his Tucson home. 'So I do still have a lot of belief in myself overall as a triathlete.' As well he should. Long, 29, might be the 170th-ranked swimmer on the PTO T100 tour. But he's ranked eighth on the bike and fifth on the run. That tallied to a fifth-place finish on last year's worldwide T100 tour, which has a format similar to auto racing's F1 and races that include a 2-kilometer (1.24-mile) swim, an 80-kilometer (49.7-mile) cycle, and an 18-kilometer (11.2-mile) run. He won three Ironman 70.3 races last year and finished second in the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship last month. The longer run (13.1 miles) and bike ride (56 miles) in the Half Ironman races give him more time to catch the leaders. In the Half Ironman races, where the swimmers are generally not as fast as they are on the elite T100 Tour, which includes just 20 entrants in each race, he can be in the middle of the pack of swimmers and go on to win, though sometimes he pulls off some seeming miracles in those races, too. At the Ironman 70.3 Eagleman last weekend in Maryland, he finished 21st in the swim — 4 minutes, 32 seconds back — then pedaled and ran them down for the win. But every time he enters a T100 race, he knows he is going to be spotting some of the best of the best in the world roughly several hundred yards by the time he gets on his bike. Advertisement That makes Long something like the most extreme version of plenty of weekend warrior triathletes. They've been running since they were toddlers. A good set of lungs, lots of training and a nice bike can make the cycling segment comfortable. But swimming fast is an extremely technical activity that often requires years of practice, preferably from a young age, to develop what swimmers refer to as the ability to 'feel the water.' Long has spent years trying to get to that point, with multiple swim coaches. Hope springs eternal because triathlons often come down to the run. No one wins the race in the water, but you can lose it there. In a pool at the local YMCA, he looks like an elite swimmer. In a T100 race against some of the fastest swimmers in the sport, not so much. 'I encourage him to try to keep things realistic,' said Lara Gruden, Long's wife and a former competitive triathlete herself. 'He will tell me he really wants to make the pack, but that's not a realistic goal. So how about trying to shrink the gap, because when you want to make the pack and you don't, you feel defeated.' And yet, a reprieve might arrive this Saturday. The T100 heads to Vancouver and a swim in the ocean — where currents pushing the swimmers can level the field for a slower swimmer like Long and get him closer to the pack, if the current is heading in the right direction. Also, since Long is so used to swimming alone, he's really good at navigation and finding the most direct route to the transfer station. An ocean swim brings all that into play. The temperature should also work in his favor. He swims best in cold water. Vancouver waters check that box, and the cycling and running courses play into his speed on land. There are lots of rolling hills instead of steep climbs, which are helpful for a bigger athlete who can struggle to drag his body up a steep incline but loves rolling downhill. So why can't Long swim faster? That goes back to his childhood in Boulder, Colo., where he was on a junior swim team but never pursued it in any serious way, not after the age of 10. He played football in high school and ran track, and he skied and mountain biked a lot, too. He didn't swim very much for the next nine years until he tore his medial collateral ligament in a ski crash. Swimming with a pull buoy was the first endurance exercise he could do during rehab. Advertisement He was pretty good at it, and he still loved to cycle and was decently fast. His dad suggested he try doing a triathlon. And then the journey began. He did his first Ironman in 2014. He was just 18. His goal was to break 10 hours for the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and full, 26.2-mile marathon. He finished in 9 hours, 27 minutes, despite being basically clueless about training. The swim never came easily though, and still doesn't, but Jeff Utsch, his swim coach the past three years, has watched him progress. 'He has a growth mindset, and that is part of what makes him who he is, believing he can accomplish things and setting his goals,' said Utsch, who mainly works with masters swimmers and members of the military. 'He's open. He's humble.' To swim fast, you have to remove resistance and increase power, which involves becoming more 'slippery' and understanding what being efficient in the water means. Don't use your arms and legs to position your body. Use them for propulsion. Get the hips up by pressing the lungs and head down. Streamline the body and pull. Be like a boat that planes out of the water. 'It doesn't come naturally,' Utsch said. 'But I have seen people not raised swimming do their best times into their early to mid-40s. I think Sam is going to continue to improve as he gains experience.' That's the physical part. For help with his mind, to learn how to manage swimming in last place without getting depressed, he has turned to Brandon Thielk, a Nashville-based high-performance and life coach who once played independent league baseball and now works with athletes and business leaders. They get together before the season for several days and then do video sessions and calls throughout the year. Thielk tells Long to go get experiences and then unpack the emotions he felt during races. Advertisement 'We're trying to make his system immune to the stress response of the things that emotionally lowered him,' he said. 'It's getting to the core of the issue where he can understand why he feels that way.' Those issues could be anything. A deeply felt inferiority complex left over from childhood, or anxiety about performing poorly and then not being able to support his family financially. Thielk says Long has to constantly remind himself that he didn't start swimming at 4 years old, and he can't get lost in a game of comparing himself to competitors who did. He doesn't have to finish the swim feeling like a king. Neutral is just fine. 'Our goal is to really just get him to the place of when he gets out of the water, he's not at an emotional deficit, where his mindset is not negative, so that he can go into attack mode once he gets onto the bike,' Thielk said. Listening to Long and Gruden and Utsch and Thielk, it's impossible not to draw some life lessons from all of this. Be kind to yourself. Accept who you are. Work on your weaknesses, but don't let them define you because you have strengths, too. We're all works in progress. Long says he has tried to practice a kind of dual existence — his training self and his starting-line self. In the build-up to a race, it's all about wanting to be a better swimmer and working as hard as he can. 'Then once I actually get to the event itself, and I'm standing on that start line, it's like, 'This is where my swim is, I feel good about the work I've done in my swim, I'm going to execute the best possible swim I can,'' he said. 'And then it's also having this overarching belief in myself as a triathlete.' And also a human. (Top photo of Sam Long after taking second place at the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship earlier this month: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Rhyl Journal
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
T100 world champion Marten Van Riel aiming to replicate 'dream' victory on West Coast
Marten Van Riel wins the sprint at San Francisco on the line in 2024 (Image: PTO) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. T100 world champion Marten Van Riel is targeting more San Francisco success having raced to a 'dream' victory in a thrilling sprint finish at the event last year. The Belgian, who claimed the inaugural T100 world title last year, took victory on the West Coast on the line in 2024, winning a three-man sprint by 0.01 seconds. Now, Van Riel is hoping he can replicate the magic of that performance as he looks to get his season into full swing after a third-place finish in Singapore. 'It was honestly a dream last year to take the victory, and I'm ready to defend it this year. I love the race, I love the location. The course is, in my opinion, the best on the circuit,' the 32-year-old said. '[Last year] was incredible, that's what we live for. It's a three-hour-plus race, and it comes down to less than a second with three of us. 'If I would have finished third in that case, I would be very frustrated. But now it's magical. 'That's what you get when you put the best in the world together. You're going to get close races like that. That was very cool.' 🔥 VANCOUVER T100 MEN'S START LIST 🔥 The contracted athletes rolling up to Vancity when the T100 hits Canada for the very first time 🇨🇦 Catch all the action live on PTO+ on Saturday 14 June 📺 READ MORE: — T100 Triathlon World Tour (@t100triathlon) May 13, 2025 Van Riel will head to the USA in better shape than the season opener in Singapore having raced an Ironman just a week before. But he will take confidence from the mettle he showed in both performances, finishing second in the Ironman before claiming a second podium place with third in Singapore. 'That was obviously very, very hard and not the easiest combination. In the end, it did work out well with two very solid results that I could be happy with,' reflected Van Riel. 'I was just drained the whole time. It was only just in time, like one or two days before the race, that I started really turning it around and feeling good again. So I wouldn't recommend it, but I'm happy that it turned out well. 'Beforehand I thought, 'Okay, I can do it.' But you always think you're Superman before a race. Once I finished the Ironman, I was thinking 'How am I going to do this?' 'To turn up and take that third place, that was incredible. It really motivates me and I have the feeling that I can still build throughout this season and get my level higher. 'If I could already finish third there, hopefully I can play even higher stakes in the next races.' Having finished with the highest points total across the T100 races last season to claim the world title, taking three victories, Van Riel is acutely aware that he has set the standard for others. But after a training camp in Sierra Nevada, he is not accepting any excuses as he aims to defend his title with a target on his back. 'All the other athletes saw last year, what my level was and that level was the level that took the world title,' said Van Riel. 'Every time someone does really good performances, if you give it some time, other people are going to be catching up. That's just the game. 'It's going to be a lot harder this year, but I'm excited to battle it out with these guys and try to stay on top.' Watch the world's top 20 female and top 20 male triathletes race live in the San Francisco T100 over the legendary Escape From Alcatraz course on Saturday 31 May. The broadcast starts at 0545 local time, 1345 in the UK, with the races starting 15 minutes later. You can tune in live for free globally on PTO+ or watch on partners channels such as TNT Sports 2 in the UK, Max or Discovery+ in Europe, or beIN in North America. For more details visit
