After being locked in for such a long period of time, we all feel the need for a relaxing holiday to take us away from our daily cares. But did you know that there is a lot at stake when it comes to getting away?
1. Stress
When you are dealing with multiple pressures at work, your body reacts with the survival response of fight or flight. Sustained challenges lead to constant stress, which does not go away even when you go home. Being stressed prevents you from thinking straight and impedes your analysis and actions at work. When you take a holiday, you immediately reduce the stress in your life and give yourself the space and time to get back to work with a clear mind.
2. Health
Life is short. Don’t make it shorter by avoiding holidays. Reports say people who do not go on holiday have a 21% higher risk of death from all causes.
3. Productivity
Studies agree that if you don’t take holiday breaks, your productivity suffers. Long periods of work without break lead to irritability, poor decision making, poor communication and relationships, and more days off due to ill health.
4. Investment
The primary resource for creating wealth in your life is you. Think of holidays as an investment to increase the size and value of that asset. A holiday is an opportunity to expand your horizons by travelling to new places, signing up for new experiences, and creating memories that continue to make you happy.
5. New Viewpoints
When on holiday, you are exposed to new environments, different human behaviours, cultures and diverse ways of doing business. You learn there is no single way to deal with life or work situations. Holidays serve as unstructured education for you where you absorb and assimilate fresh perspectives.
6. Missing Work Opportunities?
Are you concerned that in a hyper-competitive work environment and taking holidays may lose you the next promotion to your colleague who never takes a day off? No worries! Studies say there is no evidence to show that people who are promoted took no holidays. On the contrary, people who rise fast usually have balanced lives.
7. Even Planning Has Benefits
If your job and personal challenges drain you daily, then your planned holiday becomes your beacon of hope and happiness in the days leading to the trip. Studies have even shown that the planning process lifts your mood almost as much as the actual trip does. As you plan and prepare for something that you look forward to, the daily effort gets easier and seems worthwhile since it is paying for your holiday. If you are smart, while on holiday you will commit to your next trip giving yourself the energy and enthusiasm for the work that will get you there!
