In 2005, Americans threw away an estimated 415 million vacation days. That''s 1.6 million years of unused vacation! Have we lost our minds? Chronic stress and overcommitment to work have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and mortality. Yep, not taking a vacation will make your RealAge older. Much older.
Whatever your excuse for not taking a break—your job can''t live without you, you can''t
afford the expense, there simply aren''t enough days in the year—toss them out the window.
The truth is you''re not doing anyone any favors by not taking time off. Not your family. Not your employer. And definitely not yourself. Research suggests that reducing stress and taking
regular vacations—once or twice a year—may be as vital to your emotional and physical well-being as exercise or a healthful diet. And the benefits don''t stop there.
vacations seem to have a positive impact on families and organizations as well.
People who take frequent vacations:
Are less likely to be depressed, tense or tired
Have a reduced risk of heart disease and all-cause mortality
Tend to spend more time with their spouse and children and are more satisfied with their marriages
Report being more interested and more productive in their work when they return from time off So
change your mindset. Stop
thinking of vacation as a luxury you can live without and start thinking of it as a healthy habit. Let''s face it: making time off a regular recuperative part of your life is probably the easiest lifestyle change you''ll ever make.
Vacation time
Are you due for some time away from your daily duties? Take this quick quiz to find out.
When was your last getaway? I just got back from vacation.
My last vacation was a few months ago.
It was sometime last year.
My last what? It''s been so long I can''t even remember.
I can''t afford a vacation.
More abstracts about the Are You Working Yourself to Death?