Take the Vacation

Annually 212 million vacation days are lost; Studies show that even vacation planning improves happiness.

Culture in the United States promotes working more and taking less time off. This style fosters physical and mental health challenges. When overworked, stressed, and overwhelmed, your worklife balance is off-kilter, and you must ask yourself if it’s time for a break. Taking time off provides several health benefits, but circumstances inhibit employees from taking a breather.

For example, furloughs, layoffs, lean staffing, and budget cuts make it tricky for us all to get away for a brief period. Appearing less dedicated than other coworkers stimulates fear of taking a vacation. Below are six benefits of taking a vacation that outweigh the pressure of planning an escape.

Six vacation health benefits

A few benefits of people who take vacations are reduced risk of heart disease, a positive outlook on life, lower stress, and an increased focus on achieving goals. Still skeptical? Here is a list of additional benefits to taking time away from your profession.

1. Enhanced physical health

Stress is the main contributor to high blood pressure and heart disease. For both women and men, those that take a vacation every two years versus every six years will reduce the risk of heart attack or heart disease.

2. Better mental health

Constant exposure to stress can change your brain structure to bring on depression and anxiety. While on vacation, a sense of calm arises and relieves stress, allowing the body and mind to mend and settle in ways they could not if still under pressure. Even after a vacation, sleep quality, overall mood, and physical restrictions may improve compared to before vacation.

3. Motivation

Most of us are more productive and focused following time off. Other side effects of stress include difficulty achieving specific tasks and memory issues. Vacation can help declutter your brain, improving your mental health, reasoning, and awareness.

4. Reducing burnout

Employees who consistently take advantage of relaxing vacation days are less likely to burn out. Time away allows them to become more productive and creative compared to their unrested, overworked colleagues. If we don’t manage burnout appropriately, we’ll never be at our best to assist others personally and professionally.

5. Better relationships

If broadening relationships is important to you, time enjoying life with loved ones is important. Studies have shown that relationships experience high energy levels throughout the vacation process, including planning, traveling, and daily activities.

6. Increased happiness

Simple vacation planning creating a sense of something to look forward to can increase happiness significantly. Most will experience a higher sense of well-being and happiness for weeks after taking a vacation.

Plan a vacation, if possible. When you unplug from the stress of your personal and professional life, it can turn around your mental and physical health, relationships, motivation, productivity, and overall perspective. Taking time off will allow you to feel refreshed and handle whatever obstacles are thrown your way upon your return. So, if you haven’t planned for a vacation this summer, do so now and thank yourself later.