It doesn’t matter if it’s a busy day or a slow day at the office, your mind will wander. It doesn’t matter if you’re daydreaming your way to Bora Bora or the Appalachian Trail, either, the important thing is that your brain clearly wants a vacation. You could probably come up with countless reasons not to take one, too, and you wouldn’t be alone: 42 percent of Americans didn’t take a single day off vacation in 2014.
Statistics like these make it clear that the working population might need a bit of a push to get themselves out of the door, on the plane and into a state of much-needed relaxation. That’s why we’ve put together the following list of five reasons to take time off this year, and the next, and the next, and the next…
1. It clears your mind
It should come as no surprise that time away from the office helps you to improve your mental health, even if you have a high-stress job that normally keeps you glued to your phone and email. However, researchers conducting a larger health study asked their 1,399 participants about their indulgence in leisure activities, including vacation. Participants who had taken time off reported feeling less negative emotions and experienced less depression.
2. It enhances your relationships
Let’s assume both you and your significant other work a lot. When do you have time for just the two of you? Is it sandwiched in on the weekends between to-do lists and decompressing in front of the TV? A vacation gives you a chance to reconnect completely for a long period of time. This, in turn, makes you feel more connected, less tense and generally happy together. This sort of vibe would certainly translate into an improved attitude at work: What’s better than knowing someone you love more than ever is waiting for you when you get home?
3. It boosts productivity
Studies have shown that escaping your desk for a quick lunchtime workout can boost cognitive function by up to 10 percent. Can you imagine what a week or two away would do for your brain? You’ll return clear-headed and happy, which will only spur you to work harder and better. For further proof, look at the flip side: Those who don’t take much time off feel stressed, exhausted, impatient and inept to make decisions. None of those states of mind would contribute to positive forward progress.
4. It lengthens your life
As crazy as it sounds, vacation does more than just add vibrancy to your life story: It can add actual years to it. A study of 12,000 men by the State University of New York at Oswego found that those who took an annual vacation decreased their chances of a soon death by 20 percent. It likely has something to do with the fact that vacations help you banish stress, which is linked to the six leading causes of death. Regardless of how it works, it’s reason enough to hit the road.
5. You gain new perspective
Spending all day at your desk narrows your worldview to the confines of a cubicle or office. If you take a vacation, you’ll soon realize just how big the world is. This new outlook can help you as you return to work, and it can do so in a number of ways. Perhaps it will help you to prioritize what is truly important to accomplish by day’s end, and what can wait. It might give you a burst of creativity or the inspiration to pick up a book, take a class or speak to an expert who can help you improve your standing in your field. A trip could make you realize that your true passions lie elsewhere, and that the job you have isn’t your true calling.
No matter what the world has to say, the bottom line is that it’s your duty to go out and listen. All you have to do is buy the ticket and take the ride.
If you can think of any more useful reasons to take time off then leave them in the comments section below. Also, if you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with your friends and family. After all, sharing is caring!
Author: Savannah Hemmings
Savannah Hemmings graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She is a Philadelphia-based personal stylist and writes about style, fashion and fitness on her lifestyle blog, Sincerely Savannah. Her work has been featured on Hello Giggles, Bustle, Self Magazine and TIME. She has a passion for fitness and you can almost always find her training for her next marathon.
