Need Vacation?

The travel service company, Expedia, commissioned in 2009 the International Vacation Deprivation Study. It was found that 30% of Americans did NOT use all their vacation days. A major reason that they have left their vacation time unused is the fear of losing their jobs. These vacations are essential, not only to employees but to their companies and the American economy.

Taking some time away from the routine of the job allows the body to replenish and repair itself. Karen Matthews of Mind Body Center at the University of Pittsburgh, surveyed 1,399 participants for studies on cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and other conditions, and found that leisure activities, which included taking vacations, contributed to higher positive emotional levels and less depression among participants. Lower blood pressure and smaller waistlines are other benefits of vacation, especially the women. The women who vacationed less than once every two years were more likely to suffer from depression and stress than those that took their vacations at least twice a year.

Author of “How to Succeed in Business Without Working So Damn Hard”, Robert Kriegel, says that workers get many of their best ideas when they are away from the job. They have less pressure to respond to each and every crisis that arises and have the opportunity to consider innovative approaches. Vacation is a time when we can turn off those work worries and just have fun and relax, according to Robert R. Butterworth, a Los Angeles psychologist with International Trauma Associates and as quoted on abc.com. Take this opportunity to recharge your batteries and work up some really creative ideas to take back to work with you. Your brain will thank you for the time off to refresh your mind. Fatigue and stress add to the risk of cancer, so physical and emotional wellbeing are important

Because tourism is important for many locations, they stand to lose revenue if people do not take vacations. This can make a significant detrimental effect in their budgets. The study also suggests that when employees take vacations, both businesses and the economy benefit. About 34% of the respondents reported feeling better about their jobs and also more productive, after taking a vacation. Everyone should take advantage of the restorative power of taking time off to recharge.

If people do not take a full vacation, then they should at least consider a couple days off every now and then to reorganize and take a breather. I have always been able to go back to work after a couple days off, refreshed and ready to dig in again to tackle those difficult duties.

Those that choose to forgo their vacations are really not doing themselves or their companies any favors. Without a little time off they sometimes aren’t mentally there. If a company’s employees are overworked, they might be doing things at work they really shouldn’t, like personal surfing the Internet or texting.

-Dr Fredda Branyon