Take Your Vacation Before It's Too Late
Are you one of the many who had their summer vacation plans hijacked by the pandemic? Whether it was a matter of weighing health concerns, the financial resources needed to keep the vacation intact, job security, or the general anxiety of balancing the unknown, you might’ve felt the need just to keep working or the concern that the vacation would be a hot mess if you took it anyways.
That’s all completely understandable. While vacation plans might not be exactly as you envisioned, now is as good a time as ever to clear those thoughts from your mind, open up your work calendar, and take your vacation ASAP.
Impact on Health
When people are overworked or aren’t taking their earned time off, unfortunately, sleep is often sacrificed, especially during a high-anxiety season. And it’s not something to take lightly. Sleep deprivation can contribute to immune disorders and neurological changes that play a role in disease development. When analyzing people who work long hours, specifically, studies have shown a tie to cardiovascular disease and stroke. When looking at employees side-by-side who work long hours vs. short hours, those who work long hours have a higher risk of stroke.
Studies are great and obviously extremely scientific, but experience is a significant component too. We all know how it feels when we are overworked and don’t take the time to decompress and unwind. Imagine how it feels to go grocery shopping when you are not just hungry, but hangry. There’s no moderation there, which can lead to overindulgence, and in the case of overworking, burnout.
Impact on Performance
Have you ever felt overworked? How was your performance during that time? Probably not the greatest, and you’re not alone. Believe it or not, taking time away can boost employee performance. Research shows that high-performing employees actually take more vacation time. Going back to sleep deprivation, if you lack sleep, you won’t be able to perform up to your best, whether that’s at work or in your everyday life. There’s a reason why people are discouraged from driving or operating heavy machinery when they aren’t fully rested.
Impact on Personal Life
If you spend every waking moment at work, especially if you are one of the many people working from home, your personal life can suffer. The line between family time or your downtime outside of work hours and actual work has been blurred. This is because they are both taking place in the same place. If you don’t take the time to step away from work, literally and figuratively, you will miss out on the family or me time that helps to keep you balanced.
How have you felt after taking vacation time, and on the flip side, how have you felt after missing out on paid time off you originally expected to take? Share your thoughts by commenting below and check out How Potty Training is Like Running a Business.