Vacations are not a luxury. Time off is not negotiable.
We need it.
Unfortunately, Americans notoriously go without vacation time. And we suffer for it. Legions of workforce members, right now, are working themselves toward mental collapse.
Why do we do this to ourselves? What about you? Do you believe vacations are really necessary? Or do you feel like American success is somehow connected to sacrificing downtime? If so, you’re not alone.
Let’s take a little break (just a short one) to take a closer look at what we may risk by refusing a regular period of prolonged rest and relaxation:
1. Burnout is not worth the perceived benefits.
Perfect attendance is just not all it’s cracked up to be. Perfectionism is stressful and unhealthy. You can still be a good employee, an excellent employee, without working all the time. If you don’t slow down voluntarily, burnout will likely break you down. The accumulated stress of never, ever being absent from the workplace takes a toll mentally and physically.
You need downtime to go off “alert status,” let your your heart rate slow, and allow your thoughts to drift far away from to do lists and client services. If you don’t, illness, mental and otherwise, may end up keeping you from work indefinitely.
2. Perception, perspective, and productivity are the gifts of a well-timed break.
The point of vacation time, from an employer’s perspective, is to refresh you so that you can be a better employee. Your mental health should be buoyed by the fact that the ship sails on without you. This means you have the freedom to go and recharge.
Vacations are not punishment. They are not a reflection on whether or not you’re needed or wanted at work. You are simply more valuable to your workplace if you have time to step away and think about things differently, seek out refreshment, and find inspiration privately. Then you can come back energized and ready to work effectively.
3. “Brain breaks” actually keep you mentally strong.
Vacations keep the brain working optimally. Research indicates that not taking time off actually impairs brain functioning. Simply stated, the brain connections that allow you to relax into a state of calm cannot remain strong if they’re never used. Therefore, anytime you do want to relax or feel less stress, it becomes increasingly difficult. Basically, you must use those brain connections or lose them…along with the ability to cope well with work stress.
4. Vacations have the potential to break stress, conflict, and pain cycles.
When we work too much, we tend to see and feel things in cycles. The work piles up and so do the tense conversations, exasperated interactions, and waves of aches, pains, or colds. Too much intense work and long hours get in the way of mental and physical health as the work, tension, irritation, and pain go round and round.
If work never ends, the stress never ends. Emotional reactions become less predictable. Your thinking is less logical and clear. The stress cycle becomes chronic.
5. Relationship restoration often happens during vacation adventures.
Vacations are an excellent way to positively revisit, rejuvenate, or begin repairing broken bonds. Work often isolates us and pulls us from those we love most. Anticipating, planning, and joining each other for time off gives you and your relationships the time and consideration they deserve.
Time off allows you to do more together and be more to each other. You may also find that you use the time to create more memories and positive interactions that bond you and open dialogue you wouldn’t ordinarily have time for. Communication and unscheduled relationship building often happens on a beach, ski lift, or on a road trip. Having that stash of good times stored in your mind is great to draw on when times are tough or work days, inevitably, start to get long again.
Denise Kautzer is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Certified Public Accountant whose practice is located in St. Paul, MN. You can view her website at www.denisekautzer.com or contact her at denise@denisekautzer.com.