3 Reasons Why You Need to Take a Vacation and Leave Work Behind

I was about to lose it all—my job, my health, and my sanity. The pressures of work were building to the point that I had written out my resignation letter, proof-read it, and translated it into a foreign language. All that was left to do was hand it in.

But I did something instead that saved everything.

I told my boss that I was using my vacation days. To this I was told that there was no possible way I could take a vacation. Too much work. This was not the right time. I was “needed.” I’ve heard the same thing every time I asked for a vacation. But this time I made a determined effort to take a vacation, and I did.

It is sad to say that Americans use only about 13 vacation days a year. That’s compared to 25 days a year taken right here in South Korea. And I know there is a lot of fear people have for not taking vacations, especially in this economy.

But is it worth the cost? The most common fear I hear is the fear of losing your job for taking a vacation. I don’t know about you, your business, or your company but mot likely you will not be fired and your business will not go under while you’re on vacation.

Your imagined fears are much greater than your real fears.

Benefits of a vacation

There are three reasons why you need a vacation

1. Mental Refreshment

When I asked for my vacation I was near burnout. I’m not the only one. Vacations mentally refresh you. People who do not take vacations tend to seek mental refreshment through internet surfing or some other unproductive activity. And some people choose quitting their jobs over taking vacation.

Take a vacation before deciding to quit.

2. Physical Refreshment

Stress causes weigh gain, hair loss, and whole assortment of physical ailments. Being away from stress can improve your health.

3. Vacations Make you More Productive

You are more productive BEFORE and AFTER a Vacation. Think about how you prepare for your vacation. Those are THE most productive moments you’ll ever have. I’ve tried working like I prepare for a vacation. It can do it to some extent. But not every day (though I’m working on it).

Most people I know are afraid of returning to a barrage of e-mails, messages, etc. upon returning from their vacations. But most work can wait. In fact, how much of your work e is time sensitive?

So, now you know you need a vacation. But how do you have a real vacation versus setting up a mini-office?

How to Avoid Getting Sucked into Work

1. Leave your iPhone/Blackberry/laptop/whatever at home

If you really need to check your mail, go to a library/internet café/whatever. You may think checking email is important when you have the opportunity right in front of you, but you’d be shocked at how unimportant it really is if you have to travel for it.

Some people will advise you to change your mindset about vacations. But changing a mindset takes years. The easiest way to avoid working is to not allow yourself to work.

2. Change your messages
Setup an email autoresponder to say you are out of the office and specify when you’ll return. Do this on your voice mail as well. Do NOT give them a number where they can reach you.

3. Give your contact information to ONE person only

If everyone knows how to reach you, the greater the chance someone will want to contact you. Just let one person know how to contact you, and make sure that person knows that contact is for a true emergency. And leave them a hotel number since you won’t have a phone with you.

The best vacation I have ever had involved me climbing Mt. Fuji. It was a vacation 10 years in the making. And I didn’t need to blog from the mountaintop or call anyone. No one could get a hold of me on the mountain and later when I went to an internet café to check my mail—no messages.

A vacation is a vacation. Work is work.

I’ll leave you with that.