I was doing my usual scroll through the internet when I ran across an article on Forbes.com titled, ‘Why Taking Vacation Time Could Save Your Life.’
The article goes through study after study conducted by researchers and medical professionals listing the side effects of working 40 hours a week while juggling life and domestic care without taking a break from your normal daily routine.
What are the side effects? Heart disease. Stroke. Brain fog. Insomnia. Diabetes. The list goes on.
According to the American Institute of Stress:
- 40% of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful
- 29% of workers felt quite a bit or extremely stressed at work
- 25% view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives
Those are some insane percentages.
Here is my truth: We weren’t meant to live solely for the purpose of earning money and status.
We were meant to enjoy life and embrace all it has to offer.
Since I’ve shared some of the downsides to never taking a vacation, how about I share with you some of the benefits:
- More Mindfulness
- Less irritability
- Recharging of your mind, body & spirit
- Cutting your risk of a heart attack
- Better Sleep
- More productivity
- Overall, a better sense of well-being
This list goes on.
I say all this to say, take time off, sis! Work will always be there but your mental and physical health may not be. Don’t wait to burn out before you put in for that PTO.
Don't wait for ‘one day’ to do something for yourself.
You can do it. Better yet, you deserve to do it for yourself.
xo, Lisa
