If You Bring Work Into Your Vacation, You’re Not Alone

Hogan highlights four personality characteristics that make it harder to disconnect during the holidays

As the year comes to an end, many professionals look forward to a well-deserved break after months of nonstop demands, shifting priorities, and constant pressure to perform. Yet for a significant number of people, disconnecting during the holidays proves surprisingly difficult. Emails still get checked, to-do lists continue running in the background, and guilt often replaces rest. For some, the holiday break becomes the only window to make progress on important projects or personal goals that require uninterrupted focus.

This behavior is not simply about workaholism. In many cases, it reflects genuine overload. Professionals in high-responsibility roles or those navigating complex priorities throughout the year often use time off to complete work that cannot be done in fragmented moments. Entrepreneurs, high performers, and individuals whose roles demand constant availability frequently see the holidays as a rare opportunity to regain control over their workload.

According to Hogan Assessments, a global leader in personality science with more than 11 million assessments conducted worldwide, the difficulty in switching off is closely linked to individual personality characteristics that shape how people relate to responsibility, achievement, control, and uncertainty. Hogan’s long-standing research shows that the challenge of disconnecting is not evenly distributed — some professionals struggle far more than others.

1. You feel responsible for everything — even when you’re supposed to be off

People with extremely high standards often feel personally accountable for outcomes and details. For these individuals, stepping away from work can quickly create anxiety about errors, delays, or things not being handled correctly in their absence. Even during vacation, they may feel compelled to monitor situations or catch up quietly, driven by a deep sense of responsibility toward their role, team, or organization.

2. You don’t “clock out” emotionally from other people’s problems

Professionals working in caregiving or impact-oriented fields — such as healthcare, education, or social impact — often carry emotional responsibility for others that extends beyond formal duties. Although they may physically step away, mentally disconnecting can be far more challenging. Concern for patients, students, teams, or communities can follow them into their time off, making true rest difficult.

“After a full year of pressure and constant demands, disconnecting should feel natural — but for many people, it actually creates anxiety,” explains Dr. Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer at Hogan Assessments. “When achievement, control, or responsibility are closely tied to identity, vacation can feel like losing a part of who you are.”

3. Slowing down feels risky — like you might lose momentum

Entrepreneurs and high performers are often driven by ambition, competitiveness, and a strong desire to progress. During holidays, they may worry about losing momentum or missing opportunities, leading them to stay partially connected to work. For these professionals, rest can feel unproductive, even when exhaustion signals the need for it most.

4. Rest makes you uneasy because being busy feels like being valuable

Many professionals who struggle to disconnect have difficulty delegating or letting go of control. Trusting others to handle tasks while they are away can feel unsettling, prompting them to check in frequently “just in case.” For others, the challenge is more internal: their sense of self-worth is deeply linked to productivity. When being busy equals being valuable, rest can feel undeserved, triggering guilt rather than relief.

Hogan also highlights that these patterns are often intensified by burnout and mental overload. By the time the holidays arrive, months of back-to-back demands leave professionals mentally depleted, making it harder to relax. In this context, vacation becomes less about recovery and more about survival — a chance to finally focus without interruption.

What actually helps

Hogan emphasizes that the ability to disconnect is not about willpower. It is a behavioral skill shaped by personality. Planning workloads in advance can reduce anxiety for those who worry about details. Clear delegation frameworks help professionals who struggle to let go. Setting explicit boundaries with technology supports highly driven individuals who stay connected out of habit. And reframing rest as a requirement — not a reward — helps those who equate productivity with value.

“Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for sustainable effectiveness,” adds Dr. Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer. “Understanding your own characteristics allows you to disconnect without guilt and return with clarity, energy, and focus.”

Hogan stresses that learning to separate identity from constant productivity is key to building healthier habits around work and rest. By recognizing these patterns, professionals can approach the holidays with greater awareness — and make space for recovery that truly lasts.

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About Hogan Assessments: The international leader in personality insights, Hogan Assessments produces valid, reliable personality assessments grounded in decades’ worth of research. More than 75% of the Fortune 500 use Hogan’s talent acquisition and development solutions to hire the right people without bias, boost productivity, reduce turnover, and promote diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit hoganassessments.com.