I just read the best article (while I was supposed to be working diligently, of course, to catch up on my time off). See -- now other people agree with me that taking a vacation benefits you mentally -- you have to believe it, it was on CNN. (ha ha) Mental health days are not a joke but a scientific study.
I heartily agree with the story, relaxation and a break from reality are a good thing. Taking off of work, especially if you have a stressful job (or even if you don't, working the assembly line can be just as stressful as being a nurse in the ER), can be the best medicine for your ails. This article gives you a REASON to leave -- for your mental health.
Workaholic ails ---
http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/05/25/workaholics.dont.take.vacation/index.html
Workaholic ails ---
http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/05/25/workaholics.dont.take.vacation/index.html
In the U.S., most workplace vacation policies are 2 weeks max and most of the time you can’t take them consecutively (unless you work at a bank, where by law you have to in order for them to make sure you are not a thief). I guess the premise of Americans living to work is a truth. While other nationalities mostly work to live. With this premise, U.S. employers are stifling their employees by not giving them significant time off (T & L don’t get any ideas, ya’ll have your vacations planned the same week anyway).
It feels like employers, fellow workers, family and friends are judgmental if you go on a vacation for more than 5 days (sometimes even if it less than that amount of time). Really, judgmental, envious? Why begrudge a hardworking person a few days off from reality? They should be encouraging it so the person can come back in a better mood.
Even U.S. Presidents get major grief for taking a few days here and there, and they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Harry Truman had a place in Key West, FDR in Warm Springs, Georgia, and George Bush regularly went to his retreat in Crawford, Texas. So why on the news do they give Obama grief about going to Hawaii (his home state) for a few days of visiting friends and family, surf and relaxation. I say good for him, let him have a couple of hours of getting away from the “office”, even if the whole world is his office. Maybe those couple of hours breaking from reality helps him focus on the concerns of the country.
Where?
A vacation doesn’t have to be away somewhere. It’s just when you leave your normal place of work and leave it for someone else to handle or decide it can wait. If you work from home -- leave go to a hotel where you can be waited on. If you work in an office -- don’t go to the office at all during your time off.
In my life, if I am in my hometown I feel guilty if I am not at my office and it is rare where I do not go to my office for at least a few hours. Therefore for me to vacation, I have to exit the area entirely.
Getting away from it all, is that possible?
Question, in today’s electronic age can you really get away from it all? Heck no, your office can track you down almost anywhere (if there is cell phone power). Texts, emails, faxes, and phone conferencing you can keep up with work but on the flipside work can keep up with you too.
For almost 48 hours in Ayers Rock, we were without cell phones, landline telephones, ATM’s, and the internet. If there hadn’t been cable TV, we could have been on the moon or a deserted island for all the isolation we had. For me after a few hours I got adjusted and enjoyed it. My travel buddy reacted differently and was hyperventilating because she couldn’t call, email, or text. My mother would have been in the same boat if she had been there, she cannot be unconnected.
Ask yourself, how comfortable would you be if you had no communications with anyone for a certain length of time. Could you handle it? Most people today probably couldn’t. I always think back to when I would drive 7 hours to college on weekends, how did I stay awake or survive the drive without being able to call anyone.
Yes, in our modern age, cellphones and internet access add to the safety of travel. You can keep in touch with family, and you can also call for assistance when there is an accident.
Limiting their use is a good thing -- if you are out of the country you are forced to stay off the phone and internet due to high charges. While traveling in the US, maybe you should use the same strategy and limit your use, to give you more of a break with reality.
Basics -- For your mental health -- take a vacation. Where do you go -- away from the place where you work. What do you travel with -- unfortunately, our electronic items are a necessity, but try to limit their use.
Enjoy, relax and break from reality.. Now experts agree with that premise.
Maybe the Aussie Attitude (or maybe European attitude) will catch on worldwide -- Pleasure before Business? We can only hope.......
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