Why You Should Take Some Time off Right Now

By: Guest Author

Published: May 11, 2022

Written by Sarah Kaminski-Guest Contributor

How often have you thought, “I shouldn’t take time off; I should save it for when I’m sick, or my child is sick, or there’s an emergency?” And how many of these days did you actually get to use? If I had to guess, I’d say you didn’t spend all of them; at most, you spend half of them.

And then, year after year, you do the same thing, and it eventually becomes a bad habit. But if it’s any consolation, you’re not alone.

According to research from the United States Travel Association, Oxford Economics, and Ipsos, 55% of employees did not use all of their time off in 2018, resulting in 768 million unused days across the country.

Overworking yourself and not getting enough rest is extremely dangerous to your health. Here’s a list of reasons why you should go to your boss – or to yourself if you are the boss – and demand some time off right away. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Mental Reset

Multitasking has become synonymous with being a woman. You take care of your family, your home, and your workload, and you’ve been doing all of that for years. There’s no way you are not mentally exhausted.

Even just working for too many days without rest can leave your brain in a state of disarray. Your ideas get blurry, a simple task that used to take you 20 minutes now takes 2 hours, and everything appears to be more difficult than it is. These are all clear signs that you need to take some time off right away. After at least a day, you will feel better and see the benefits of a mental reset.

Productivity Boost

It sounds crazy, but it really works – to be more productive at work, you need to stop working. You know that feeling when you take a longer break and come back to finish your task, and everything goes much more smoothly than before the break? If you can feel that after a regular break, can you imagine the effect it will have on your productivity if you take a week or two off?

Reconnecting with Yourself

You don’t have time to think about yourself when you have so much to do as a mother, wife, friend, or employee in a single day. What you need is some time off to reconnect with yourself. Traveling to your favorite destination or simply staying at home and enjoying your garden or going on hikes is a great way to spend some quality time on your own.

It’s time for some serious self-care. Remember your hobbies, spend time relaxing, or even try something new you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t had the time for. Simply taking that time will allow you to reconnect with yourself and remember who you are as a person rather than the role you play in other people’s lives.

Reconnecting with Your Loved Ones

It’s Friday night, you’ve planned a girls’ night out, but you haven’t finished your work. You cancel your night out and return to work.

If you recognize yourself in this description, you need a vacation if for no other reason than to show those closest to you that you love spending time with them. So, make the most of these days by spending one with your friends doing fun things and the other with your family doing something exciting like going on a picnic or something similar. Simply reconnect with your loved ones and show them how much you appreciate them.

You’ll Be More Relaxed

Everyday stress is a part of our lives, and what better way to de-stress than to take a vacation? Take some time to unwind and unplug from your work. After a proper few days of rest, you’ll be able to avoid stress symptoms (such as headaches) for several weeks once you return to work.

You’ll Sleep Better

If you bring work home and wait for everyone to fall asleep so you can finish one more task, I’m guessing your sleeping schedule is a disaster. And you truly require beauty sleep every night. Not for the sake of appearance, though that helps, but rather because your health depends on it. There are far too many diseases that you put yourself at risk of contracting simply by not sleeping well.

Imagine yourself in bed, on the perfect mattress (yes, such a thing exists), reading your favorite book, slowly falling asleep, and waking up in the morning completely rested and full of energy. Do you really need any more persuasion?

Sharpen Your Focus

Are you even happy at work, or do you just go because you have to? Spending time alone can help you refocus your goals and gain perspective. A day off can get your wheels turning and send you in an entirely different career direction. At the very least, it might motivate you to make changes in your current job to better suit your needs.

Wrapping up

I sincerely hope this has persuaded you to take some well-deserved time off and care for yourself. If you decide to do this, keep in mind that it’s all about you. You have every right to prioritize your needs for a change and use this time to pursue your desires.

Author Bio:

Sarah Kaminski is a life enjoyer, positivity seeker, and a curiosity enthusiast. She is passionate about an eco-friendly lifestyle and adores her cats. She is an avid reader who loves to travel when time allows.

 

The views expressed herein this article, written by a guest contributor, do not necessarily represent those of the Red Hot Mamas organization. The content is for informational purposes and should not substitute the advice of your doctor.