Why you should plan a holiday at least once a year

I can just imagine a typical work day. For a lot of us, it would mean shoulders hunched down, back slouched, squinting at a screen that is too bright while cooped up in a cubicle, and working hard under harsh fluorescent lights. Many of us can relate to these work conditions. But while you think you’re working hard and being busy for the sake of busy, working yourself into a stupor can seriously make you feel burnt out and unproductive.

It may feel just the opposite, but what we need to do to get our productivity back is to take a break!

It’s good to take a break from our hectic lives once in a while, to have a few days to ourselves to think, relax, and decompress. This is what vacations are for! Plan a vacation where you can let go of any work responsibilities for a few  days.

It is  best to plan your vacation in advance. You will have time to check the best flight deals and give your boss a heads up, instead of making a last minute request. You can also delegate tasks, prepare for a house/pet sitter, and assign all urgent work matters to a coworker.

When you do decide to go and take a personal holiday, please, avoid doing any work related tasks. A Glassdoor survey found that nearly half (44%) of employees reported doing some work while on holiday. While some blame may be put on mobile technology, it is still up to you if you want to take advantage of the opportunity to rest and relax, or if you want to work on vacation. Learn to let go of work responsibilities, work will be waiting for you when you get back from break anyway, so why not enjoy your holiday fully. The benefits of completely tuning out and taking the time to recharge, is more significant than trying to get some work done during a personal holiday.

Taking a break from work should leave you coming back feeling  recharged, rested, energised, and ready for action.Surveys also show that taking a break helps you become more creative and come up with brighter, newer ideas. Now, this benefit alone should make you think about taking those annual leaves.

Anytime is the perfect time for  a break, and you shouldn’t go too long without one. Why not take advantage of the weather? It’s still hot out, but we’re expecting cooler weather any moment now… hopefully. So how about we take advantage of the nice and sunny days while we still have them, and go outside to stretch our legs out for a bit or frolic in the sand.

Get into the vacation mindset. Be excited and plan your holiday. Before you leave, let teammates at the office know that  you won’t be available for work inquiries for a few days. Leave your work laptop, it’s big and heavy anyway. When you get to your holiday destination, turn off your phone, kick off your shoes, slip on some shades, and soak up the sun.

Put your health and wellbeing first. Avoid a major burnout by taking the time to rest. Take a vacation, you deserve it!