Posted by Vargas Consulting and Wellness LLC on October 8, 2023.

What do you think? Is taking time off from your job is a form of self-care? According to the American Psychological Associaltion, vacations work to reduce stress by removing people from activities and environments that they associate with stress and anxiety. For most of us, the constant thing that can cause this daily stress are jobs or school. Why? Because you go there every day, several hours a day and are expected to do an activity and work with people who are not of your choosing. If this is the case, then why aren’t more people taking time off from work. Well in 2018, the US Travel Association found that Americans left 768 million vacation days unused. Let’s discuss some of the reasons people don’t use their vacation time, the benefits of using your vacation time and signs you need a vacation.

Why People Fail to Use Their Vacation Time:

*Many people believe they shouldn’t take time off because they will fall behind at their job. We have this idea that if we constantly work we will complete everything, leaving us to feel relieved. That rarely happens. Besides, you earned that vacation time and it is much needed so you can relax and reduce feelings of burnout. Make a plan, write an to do list. The things you cannot get done and need to be completed before you leave should be provided to your boss. Remember, taking time off is a part of your self care plan.

*Many people have poor work boundaries. An example is reading and responding to work emails and taking phone calls while on vacation. Remember that you can not totally disconnect from your job, if you are staying involved by answering phone calls or checking emails or text messages, even if it only takes five minutes. Turn your phone off and leave it at home or at your office if you will be tempted of look at it.

*Many people will not take time off as they believe it creates stress for their co-workers and supervisor. Most workers don’t want to leave work behind as they fear it will be left to their overwhelmed co-workers. Keep in mind that all of your co-workers have vacation time. When they go on vacation, they will leave you with certain aspects of their job. There is no way around it unless you never want to take any time off. So, make a plan. Tell your boss and co-workers what tasks need to be completed while you are away. Do what you can before you leave for vacation. If you can’t finish everything, tell your self you did all you could and it’s okay to take some time away from your job.

*Some people believe that when they take vacation, they come back their job with an overwhelming amount of emails and phone calls. If this is what you tell yourself, realize this is not a good reason to not take time off. Remember, vacation time is a benefit of your job and taking time to relax will in turn make you a more productive and refreshed employee.

The Benefits of Vacation:

There are multiple benefits of taking vacations. Taking a vacation can reduce stress, provide a positive outlook and give you time to rest and recharge. Taking time away from work can boost dopamine, helping you feel good. Research shows that planning for a vacation causes happiness. Chakell Wardleigh reports that a person can feel the effects up to 8 weeks before their departure date.

Consider taking a vacation that has been totally paid off prior to going on vacation. You will feel stress free when you are on vacation and not have to worry about how you are going to pay for this trip. Look into all inclusive vacations. If it’s not all includsive, estimate daily food costs, tours and/or activities and save for this prior to your trip. The more you plan financially, the less stress you will have while you are on this trip.

Reducing burnout is another benefit associated with taking a vacation. Our bodies require rest and relaxation. According to Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, vacations can help interrupt the habits that disrupt sleep, like working late into the night.

Signs You Need a Vacation:

When you constantly think about work, when your working when you should be home relaxing, if you miss important events and if you find yourself moody more days than not, it’s probably a good idea to start planning a vacation. If your normal coping skills are not helping, try taking a week off so you can recharge. During this time off, come up with a self care plan.

When your away on vacation, enjoy your time off. Plan ahead to reduce stress. Let your co-workers know what days your will be off. Let your boss and co-workers know of any pending or important projects that are upcoming. Take at least a week off or two if you have the time. You may notice that it takes a few days to adjust to being away from the office. As time goes on, you will begin to notice you are thinking of work less and less. Turn off your work cell phone, leave it at home or at work if you think you will be tempted to turn it on and answer emails.

I hope you enjoyed this blog. If you would like to respond to this article or discuss healthy coping strategies or self care techniques that you use to reduce stress and burnout, feel free to send me an email at [email protected] or check out the website at vargasconsultingandwellness.com