As the end of the year approaches, I've been seeing a lot of articles regarding the trend of American workers not taking advantage of their paid leave or sick days. The United States is far behind many developed nations in this respect, with a lot of countries not only offering, but REQUIRING their working citizens to take anywhere from 4 - 6 weeks off per year! But even though most of us are lucky to get just a week or two worth of paid days off, we still oftentimes wind up with extra time at the end of the year that we haven't used, and can't roll over onto next year. Here's why it's important to make the most of those days, however many or few they may be!
EVERYONE needs the chance to recharge sometimes. While we all like to think we're superhuman and can power through anything with sheer willpower and determination, our bodies are telling a different story. Many studies have shown that overwork can lead to increased stress levels, diminished immune system capacity, and a host of other health problems. Even just a single day away from the tiresome daily routine can work wonders to help your mind and body reset!
We all want to do our jobs to the best of our ability, and it can be difficult to put things down and step away for a while. We worry about the amount of work that will be waiting for us upon our return, or that the boss will like the temp they hired to cover your position more than they like you. This is a terrible, self-perpetuating cycle of thought to get into! The more we worry, the more our job performance will suffer. I promise, if you have a good system in place, and take the time to finish out the most pressing tasks in preparation for your vacation, the world will not end in your absence! Yes, you may have a few days of catching up to do when you get back, but you'll return to work refreshed, relaxed, and maybe even with a new outlook on a job that was rapidly becoming more of a burden than a joy.
Every one of us, regardless of profession or experience level or specific position, needs to find the right balance between our careers and our private life. Your kids will only be young for a short period of time - take them on that Disney vacation before they're off to college! Nurture your marriage by taking a nice long weekend at a little B&B you've always wanted to visit. Professional success is important, but 20 years from now, the memories we'll cherish most aren't going to be which awards we recieved or which house sold the fastest; they're going to be of the time spent with the people we love most, doing the things that made us happiest. So, if you have some time just sitting there waiting to be used, take it and make the most of it! Even if you just sit on the couch in your PJs for a day, you'll feel better for it in the long run.
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