Do you use all your vacation time, or are you too busy?  In 2017, according to Expedia’s Vacation Deprivation report Canada ranked 9th in being the most vacation deprived!  And that being said, those living in the US are not much better at taking their vacation time; that is, if they are given it – unlike other developed countries in the World, the US  has no mandated vacation days for employees.  And, although Canadians have mandated vacation, we have less mandated vacation days when compared to most other Western nations.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, out of balance and under the gun at work – do you tell yourself and others that you cannot take vacation because you are too busy?  Do you think taking a vacation will make you look less dedicated to your workplace?
Let’s debunk some myths:
1.   I’ll be seen as less dedicated and less productive –

• research shows us that productivity increases when we give our brains the opportunity to ‘tune out’ from work and tune in to something different.  When we return from a break we are usually more rested.  We have taken time to rest and recharge our batteries so that we have more energy to focus on what’s important.

2.    I’ll be more stressed if I take a vacation

• Time off has proven benefits – It reduces stress and many reports say it is good for our heart health.  A Scandinavian study showed women who vacationed once every 6 years or more were 8 times more likely to develop heart disease or suffer heart attacks than those who travelled at least twice a year

3.   I’ll be less focused

• Taking time off, is good for our mental health & resilience, it helps the mind and body heal and allows our brain time to reboot.  A reduction in stress through a vacation can help return focus better than any other activity

Let’s rephrase and talk about what a vacation or taking time off can do for you!

• It can decrease burnout.  People who take time to relax are less likely to experience burnout, which allows them to be more creative and productive than those who don’t take breaks
• Improves and rekindles relationships:  Spending quality time with family and friends gives us the opportunity to have better quality and more meaningful relationships.
• Gives us time to re-access life’s priorities, while allowing us to refresh, rejuvenate  and re-centre ourselves.  Allows us to rebalance work/life priorities.
• Vacations improve Sleep:  Taking vacations improve overall sleep. Rested workers can focus better, have more energy and are more productive. 

Now I’m talking about a real vacation, not a day here and there but a week, or even better two weeks away.  To really benefit from a vacation we must – turn off e-mail and calls, and stop thinking about work.  Even planning a vacation can change our outlook and make us happier.  If you worry about someone dropping the ball at work, plan, delegate and then trust.  Remember no one is indispensable, although we do sometimes like to think we are..  I’m often amazed when I go away, and really turn off, how many solutions I find when I return home, to challenges I had struggled with before I left.

It’s important to take time away, whether you own the business, are an key team leader or a new employee.  It’s important to your health, which in turn is important to your company’s health.  Burnout is real and costly for companies, stressed out employees are not productive or creative, in fact they can be downright grumpy and disruptive.
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Remember you only have this life to live, you are in charge of how you live it.  Working yourself to the bone, suffering ill health and bad relationships because you are afraid of taking time away may mean it’s time to re-access what’s important.  Take back your time!  Live the life you have been given with joy, gratitude and happiness.  And, if you need  support to instigate changes, contact me and set up an appointment for a free discovery session.