Believe it or not, a surprising number of people don’t use their vacation time…In fact, a number of people never take vacations! And now with the advent of our ‘incredible’ technological advances, when we do take vacations, we often bring work along with us…essentially bringing along what it is that we’re trying to escape. Hmmm…
This is really unfortunate for a number of reasons:
- Vacations stoke creativity – Creativity needs feeding and vacations serve up a buffet like no other. A good vacation can help us to reconnect with ourselves and re-acquaint us with what matters most. Time away operates as a vehicle for self discovery and helps us to get back to feeling and being at our ingenious best.
- Vacations beat back burnout – Folks who take regular time to relax are less likely to experience hitting the wall and burning out. They remain more creative and productive than their overworked, under-rested counterparts.
- Vacations boost health – Taking regular time off to ‘recharge your batteries’ helps to keep stress levels lower and keep you healthier.
- Vacations strengthen bonds – Spending time with fave folks and loved ones can do wonders for relationships…helping you to enjoy the good times more and getting you through the tough times better.
- Vacations boost performance – regular vacations produce psychological benefits that impact your quality of life. This sets a rock solid foundation for higher quality work.
The bottom line is that taking a good amount of time away from the stresses of the workplace and daily life can give you the break you need so that you can return to your life refreshed and better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.
How much time have you had off in the last year? Have you booked more than one week off this summer? Are you taking your full vacation and encouraging your staff to do the same?
