Thursday, February 22, 2024

Take Your Vacation—Correctly

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: don’t waste your vacation days! If you do, you’ll miss out on these mind and body benefits that come from taking time away from work

Guide Magazine

Feeling foggy and unmotivated at work? A few days away from the daily grind might be just what the doctor ordered. But you’ll need to approach it strategically.

If you find that accidental reminders of work, such as posts on social media from your employer or messages from coworkers, are pulling you out of the vacation mindset, try setting your phone to silent for most of the day or turn off notifications from Facebook and Instagram. Before you leave for your break, communicate to those at work that you’re not going to check in, and you would prefer radio silence until you return.

During your days off, the opportunity to catch up on sleep can have its benefits. While it’s recommended that Canadian adults get 7 to 9 hours each night, 25 percent of those aged 18 to 34 and 33 percent of those aged 35 to 64 aren’t getting enough. Good sleep can help with weight maintenance, stress management, and reduce your risk for many common diseases, including diabetes.

Taking your vacation time has also been associated with better overall health and a stronger immune system. A study on women found that those who went on vacation twice a year were eight times less likely to develop heart problems than those who took a vacation once every six years. And the relaxation that comes with holidays can help control stress hormones that can suppress your body’s ability to fight viruses, which is very important during cold and flu season.

Sources: hbr.com, canada.ca

Take Your Vacation—Correctly

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