The Value of Vacation
A few weeks ago, a co-worker forwarded me an article by the Harvard Business Review entitled “Give Yourself Permission to Work Fewer Hours.” A week prior, I had just returned from taking a few days off for the fourth of July. Of the four days I was gone, it took me three days to completely shift out of work mode and into vacation mode…which left me wanting more.
That was when I realized I, like many Americans, needed more time off. As a result, I was inspired to write a newsletter encouraging you to do the same.
In 2009, Time magazine published an article about the disappearing American vacation and how, as a nation, we’re taking less time off and feeling more exhausted and stressed than ever.
The piece talked about the devastating impact chronic overwork has on productivity, health and happiness. In fact, some research links overwork to depression and cardiovascular problems. No surprise there, right?
Whether you are self-employed or working for a company, many of us can relate to feeling overstretched and overwhelmed with the demands of everyday life.
From a health perspective, the research seems to agree. A yearly holiday can reduce the risk of heart attacks by 30% in men and a whopping 50% in women.
As a naturopath and entrepreneur, I believe that time off is medicine, which is why I decided to take another week off this August. I also started to plan out additional breaks for the fall and winter to keep myself energized, inspired and recharged so I can be the best practitioner possible.
“All work and no play is not going to get you ahead—it’s only going to get you more stress.”
-Roger Dow, president and chief executive of the U.S. Travel Association.
If we want anything to change — with our health, our lives or our businesses— we have to take action and lead by example, which is why I am sharing this with you.
Yours in heath,
Jennifer
sources:
https://hbr.org/2016/07/give-yourself-permission-to-work-fewer-hours
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2014/10/22/americas-disappearing-vacation-days/#420b902a581c