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Vacations are not simply an indulgence. In fact, they can be very important to your well-being. If you feel silly, selfish or frivolous for wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you really shouldn’t. Vacations can reduce stress and boost energy, creativity and overall effectiveness at work.
Americans are Overworked
Did you know that workers in America spend more time at work than workers in most first world nations? Despite the standard work-week being 40 hours, a whopping 18% of adults report spending 60 or more hours a week at their jobs.
The United States has zero mandated paid vacation days, whereas Australia, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and most of Western Europe all have 25 or more. To make matters worse, 52% of American workers leave vacation time unused.
With all those long hours and days, you might think that people are getting a lot of work done. However, research suggests that the average worker is only productive for about 3 hours each day.
Vacations Actually Increase Productivity
Vacations aren’t a waste of time and money. In fact, without recovery periods, work performance in employees is consistently shown to diminish significantly. This is why smart employers offer generous vacation benefits. For the brain to function well, we need to take effective breaks. You might be surprised to know that the most productive 10% of employees don’t work a full eight hours a day. Instead, they take 15-20 minute breaks at almost hourly intervals. In addition to regular breaks throughout the day, vacations throughout the year are of equal importance to support optimal work performance. Herman Kahn, the founder of the Hudson Institute, predicted that Americans will eventually enjoy a four-day work week and 13 weeks of vacation.
Are You Afraid to Leave Work?
The United States doesn't have a vacation culture. Overwork is something people brag about. “I only slept three hours last night,” you might hear someone say proudly. “That’s nothing. I haven’t slept in two days,” someone else might reply, as if it’s a competition to see who works the hardest. There is a difference, however, between working hard and being effective.
With the advent of technology, it seems that we are always doing something. Do you remember the last time you were bored with nothing to do? How about the last time you were OK with just doing nothing? Americans have a need to always be on the go, meaning that the idea of a do-nothing vacation can make a lot of us squirm uncomfortably. Even people who take their vacation days often still do some remote work.
If you can’t bring yourself to pull away from work for long, even just a four-night vacation or a long weekend can benefit your well-being.
Time Off is Good for Health
According to the Framingham Heart Study, people who don’t take enough breaks are at significantly increased risk for developing heart problems. When we consistently forgo vacation days, we put large amounts of prolonged stress on the heart.
A study commissioned by New Zealand Airlines and conducted by Mark Rosekind found that vacations are effective for balancing our circadian rhythms. When we’re on vacation, we tend to fall asleep when we’re tired and wake up when we’re well rested. This does wonders for the body, and the positive effects can last for weeks. Mark Rosekind also conducted a study that showed vacations can also improve reaction time.
An Ernst & Young corporate study claims that for every 10 hours of vacation, work productivity improves 8%.
The Society for Human Resource Management found correlation between people who take vacations and people who are loyal to employers. This is due to employees feeling happier and more satisfied with their work when they are taking satisfactory breaks. Vacations ensure less burnout, greater creativity, more energy and better focus.
Mental and emotional stress can cause you to unconsciously hold more tension in your body, giving you more headaches, backaches and muscle aches. Taking the time to consciously relax can help you to release tension and give your body the opportunity to heal.
Leave Stress Behind
Sometimes we leave old stressors at work only to find new stressors on vacation. Homesickness, last-minute plans, troubles navigating and forgetting to pack something can all reduce the therapeutic benefits of vacation. To avoid unnecessary stress, make sure to put in the effort to plan your vacation well. A 2010 survey showed that 28% of people who said they had a bad vacation also said they left planning to the last minute. A few extra hours dedicated to planning is much better than spending several days miserable on your supposed “relaxing” getaway.
Take Your Vacation
In the future, we may look forward to an abundance of leisure time. But for now, we should be using the precious time off we have. Maybe it’s time to take the family to Disneyland, or look into celebrity cruise deals to get out on the open sea. You can also go camping, take a road trip or attend a local event. Don’t overwork your body; people weren’t designed for perpetual productivity. Even machines need maintenance and downtime. Take some time to de-stress and recharge so you can tackle your work with renewed vigor and energy.
