Nowadays, in work, keeping work and home life in balance helps keep us going and happy. A key part to finding this balance is to ask for breaks. Writing a good email to ask for days off can help make things go well and make it more likely you’ll get a “yes”. Here’s how to write a great email to ask for break time.

The subject line should be straight to the point. Use words like “Break Ask” or “Days Off Ask” so the person who gets it knows what it is right away and can deal with it quick.

Start your email with a kind “hello” to your boss or whoever says yes to breaks.

Saying their name is nice and looks good on you

Start with why you are writing. Say you want to take a break from work and tell them the exact dates. This way, they know what you want right off the bat.

Say why you need the break. It could be for family, a big life moment, or just to rest. Telling them why makes them see why the time off matters to you.

Show you care about your work even when you’re not there. Talk about your plan for who will do your job or how you will help get things ready before you go. This shows you think about your team too.

Tell your boss you’re still there to help with big problems when you’re gone. Give them a way to reach you or tell them when you can answer calls or emails. This way, they know you’re still in the game, even when you’re out.

End your email by saying thanks for thinking about your ask and that you’re ready to help more if they need it. Saying “thanks” in a nice way is always good.

End with your name, job, and how to get in touch. This keeps things clear and makes talking easy if your boss needs to check something or say “yes” to your days off.

Example:

Subject: Break Ask – [Your Name]

Hello [Boss’s Name],

I hope you’re good. I’m asking to take a break from [start date] to [end date].

There’s a big family get-together coming, and I think this break will help me spend time with my kin and come back to work strong and sharp.

I’ve got [co-worker’s name] ready to take over any must-do jobs or questions while I’m out. I am also here to help with making any work lists or info before I leave.

I can check my emails and answer my phone if something big comes up while I’m off. I’m thankful for your help with this ask, and I want to make sure our team is okay while I’m not there.

Thanks for looking at my ask. If you need more info or have questions, just ask.

Best,

[Your Name]
[Your Job]
[Your Contact Info]

When you need a break, sending your boss an email is a good and clear way to say it. Use these tips to make a well-done email, and you can get a better shot at a “yes” and keep things good with your work.