For many Americans, “all work and no play,” has become a personal catchphrase. Are you among them? According to Project Time Off, over 52% of American employees had unused vacation days in 2017. While this percentage is an improvement compared to previous years, it’s still too much time being wasted.
Taking time away from your work is essential to allow you to reset and refuel. In fact, it can be far more effective than spending hours on end at the office. However, as a small business owner or executive, it can feel like that time doesn’t exist. Here are 5 reasons why you should take that vacation now:
1. You Get a Mental Reset
Do you ever want to hit the reset button on your mind? During an average workday, your thoughts jump around constantly, and you can be swamped with back-to-back meetings.
Taking time away allows you to mentally reset and results in a fresh start once you arrive back. You’ll notice improved productivity and creativity and even a boost in your mood. Your reset can also improve relationships with your coworkers.
2. You can Finally Unplug
Between emails, G-chats, Slack messages, and phone calls, we are connected to our jobs 24/7. Many people continue to check these forms of communication outside the office, so it never truly feels like you’re off the clock.
A vacation is a time to unplug and step away from that constant connection. When you have a good team supporting you and the proper processes in place, it shouldn’t make a difference whether you unplug for a couple days or not.
3. You can Reconnect with Loved Ones (or Yourself)
An obvious reason to take a vacation is so you can spend quality time with your family or friends. When you work in an office, it’s likely you see your co-workers more than you even see your own family or roommates.
A vacation allows you to designate how you spend your time. Your daily schedule doesn’t exist, leaving you with nothing but time to spend specifically with your friends and family creating long-lasting memories. Even if you take a solo vacation, you’re still making a meaningful connection to your needs as a human being.
4. You’ll Boost Your Health
There aren’t just mental benefits to taking a vacation, there are physical ones too. Studies show taking a vacation can lower your blood pressure, help with weight loss, and result in a healthier heart.
5. You’ll Become More Satisfied with Your Career
Taking time away from your job can lead to you being happier when you’re in the swing of things. There are studies that say employees who take a vacation are more likely to receive a raise or promotion.
Why? When you take vacations, you’re less likely to resent your job or your coworkers and are more likely to show up to work, get your work done, and perform better overall. In a way, you serve as an example for other employees who seem burnt out or stressed.
About the Author
Jennifer Donnell-Montague is Managing Director of ModernWealthConcepts LLC, Executive Services Group. She has professional certifications in Coaching, Change Management, Myers Briggs Type Theory and Human Resources-Society of Human Resource Management. She specializes in helping busy executives and senior leaders develop and execute their Personal Effectiveness Plan (PEP) so they can realize their professional aspirations while managing their lives more effectively over time.
