Hard work is an intrinsic American value. Working hard is a great trait to have and has gotten many of us the success we’ve dreamed of. That being said, from time to time, we all need a break. Our vacation days are here for a reason. We need time to step away from our work, see the world around us and experience some adventure, be it in the form of hiking, trailing, or taking alpine coaster rides, to be actually able to enjoy life, breaking away from the monotonicity of job and work. Surprisingly, most workers forgo their vacation days. It’s time to change that. Here’s every reason why you should be taking your vacation days!
Why People Don’t Use Their Vacation Days
There are many reasons why we don’t always take our vacation days off. Whether it’s because we feel too busy at work or that it’ll be looked down on to take time off, we rarely choose to prioritize our breaks. This mentality creates more stress in the workplace, mental exhaustion, and burnout in your goals. The more these mentalities take hold, we often incorrectly decide the solution is by working harder. Additionally, people often tie their idea of advancing in a company with the time they’re putting in. Because of this, companies can create a culture of skipping vacation time or “workcations”. Putting off vacation to some later date is a trap that is easy to fall into. So, you’re probably wondering why you should use your days off, well let’s get started.
Using Vacation Time is The Healthy Choice
Imagine going on a tropical beach vacation. Make it as fancy and comfortable as possible. Maybe hire a private jet (might want to check rent a private jet cost) and enjoy the luxury it assures. Once you reach your destination, you laying out on a warm beach, crystal clear water ahead of you, and a fancy drink with an umbrella in it. Sounds good right? There’s a reason why. Your brain needs rest. You may want to have a healthy meal along with a glass of wine while the sun is setting on the beach and your loved ones are sitting with you. That feeling cannot be explained in words. For that feeling, you can carry a refrigerator installed on a drop down fridge slide (for easy operations) in your camping van. You can store fruits and drinks for meals along with essential medicines, which might prepare you to face any worse conditions during the trip. Such journeys can be beneficial as staying engaged in work and office life day in and day out never gives your brain the time it needs to heal. That relaxing scenario we laid out isn’t just a day-dream, it’s a necessity.
By reducing your stress on vacation, you’re not only giving your mind a break, but you’re also doing the same for your body. Studies have shown, vacations lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce muscle tension, and alleviate chronic headaches.
Breaks Make You A Better Employee
Like we mentioned earlier, when we’re overwhelmed at work, we often think the antidote is by working harder. This leads to burnouts and making mistakes. Have you ever written something, took a break, and came back to it later and see all the mistakes you made on it? Stepping away from your work will allow you to come back to it refreshed and with a clear mind. Vacation does this on a bigger scale. Decompressing puts the stress of work into perspective and can even give you a new way of looking at problems. We all have different ways we can destress from work, that is why it is important to try out a few ways first to see which aids you better. For instance, the use of cannabis and other similar products like CBD have been used to calm the mind and provide a relaxed feeling, there are even cbd gifts for women and men nowadays, so think about gifting yourself something to keep you from getting too stressed out.
Take the Time Off and Stay Off
How many of you have taken time off, only to spend way too much of your vacation answering work calls and responding to emails? The answer is, way too many of us. When you’re on vacation, it should be just that, vacation. It isn’t just an opportunity to take our work to a different locale.
Start off by letting your coworkers and management know that you won’t be reachable on vacation. Next, get your projects handled before you leave and let everyone know where the progress stands on the ones that still need to be finished. Lastly, don’t go back on this. If you say you’re not responding to emails, then start responding, you’re going to open the flood gates of responses. Once you respond, everyone is going to stop taking your vacation time seriously.
When it comes to vacation, you deserve to use the benefits your company provides. Vacation is a crucial component to maintaining a balanced between your life in and out of the office. If the place you work at or its culture actively tries to prevent you from taking your hard-earned vacation time, then it’s time for a change. JōbSource can help you make a change. Visit one of our branches or apply online and get your next career started off right!