Working hard is one thing, working hard without a break is something that we do not recommend. It’s not good for our health, our mental health, our life, and it’s not good for our careers either.

You might think we’re crazy for mentioning that not taking a break is not good for someone’s wellbeing. However, there are many people who decide it is not important to take time off from work. These people believe not taking time off means they are responsible and professional but taking care of ourselves and accepting that we need a break from time to time is the responsible thing to do.

Why Is It Important To Take Time Off From Work And How Taking Time Off Helps?

Now let’s talk about why is it important to take time off from work and how breaks help us to be more productive in the long run.

Working without a break builds up stress. We all know by now that stress can lead to numerous problems. Being stressed all the time is clearly not healthy for anyone. So, in order to avoid, building up stress, we need breaks. Our body and mind are designed to handle stressful situations. But there is a difference between stressful situations and prolonged exposure to stress that can lead to chronic stress. And you might think your job is not stressful or you might say that you love your job which means it cannot cause you chronic stress. But be honest. The more you work the more you think about work. And the more you think about work the more disconnected you are with other parts of your life. No matter how much you love your job, you need to take time off to reconnect with yourself and to do things you love that do not have a deadline or to do things that are not mandatory.

Chronic stress can lead to numerous health problems. From headaches and gastrointestinal issues to more serious conditions such as high blood pressure and increased risks of stroke and heart disease. As we said, stress is no joke.

So how does taking time off from work helps?

Well, taking time off helps in many ways. First of all, if your job causes you a lot of stress, it helps you to break the cycle of stress. Breaking the cycle before you get overwhelmed gives you the necessary time to recover physically and mentally.

But, even if you do not have a stressful job, taking time off brings numerous benefits. It was proven that after a vacation people are more creative and they can solve problems faster. Why is that? Because the brain took a break from the things it did. Allowing your brain to rest will make it work faster and more efficiently.  That means we are better at our jobs if we take time off. Of course, spending time with our loved ones and focusing on our hobbies means we will return to our jobs happier, more energetic, and ready to conquer new tasks.

When Do You Need to Take Time Off From Work?

There are times when you know you need to take time off but there are also times when the need for a break is not as obvious. Pay attention to your behavior, to your health, and to your state of mind.

If you are experiencing a lack of energy and motivation, a lot of frustration, sleep disturbances, minor health problems or similar problems, it is time to plan our time off. Don’t worry! You don’t have to plan an entire vacation! Sometimes a staycation or a playcation are exactly what you need to recharge your batteries. But make sure that at least once a year you plan a long and well-deserved vacation.

Options For Taking Time Off From Work

So, if you don’t take a break from work to go on vacation, what’s the point of taking time off, right? No! Wrong!

Sure, a long vacation is always welcomed as we already mentioned, but not everybody can afford that all the time so, instead of a long, luxurious vacation, you can plan simple and relaxing breaks or fun breaks.

Vacation

We know you know what a vacation is but we have to mention a few things. While you want your vacation to be fun, enjoyable, and memorable, make sure you don’t book all the possible touristic activities from the location you selected. You want to have time to relax too. Also, you want to be able to decide what to do without having a crazy schedule that can cause you more stress.

What we’re trying to say is that you should come back well rested, happy, and with your batteries charged from your vacation. Needing a vacation after your vacation is not ideal.

Staycation

A staycation is basically you, at home, with your phone closed and no access to your work email. The staycation is about rest and relaxation. Make sure you don’t make the staycation about home chores or running errands because that is not its purpose.

Make a list of relaxing activities before your staycation to make it easier for you. You can read books, watch movies, go on relaxing walks, take a long bath, drink our coffee outside, and other activities that do not require a lot of effort. It is important to have fun activities but don’t overdo it! If you’re the type of person who recharges their batteries better when they are active, a playcation might be better for you.

Playcation

The playcation is similar to a staycation only it focuses more on fun activities than on relaxing activities. A mix of both is still desirable if you don’t want to be more tired than you were before the break. Just think about all the things you love doing – dancing, cooking, playing video games, having a movie night with your friends. Anything you enjoy doing goes. Just make sure you sleep well after all the fun.

Weekend Getaways

Weekend getaways are a popular thing nowadays and for a good reason. They are a mix of all the cations we mentioned above. You get to leave your home, you get to do some fun activities, and you get to relax. Or this is how it should be. Again, make sure, you don’t come home needing a vacation. Taking Friday or Monday off if you can is probably a good idea. In this way, you’ll have a day for a proper staycation before going back to work.

Short Breaks

Taking time off from work during work is also something to consider. Disrupting the body’s response to stress for a short period of time is a good strategy to keep yourself motivated and energized throughout the workday. You don’t have to think about ways to escape the office. A quick meditation session can do the trick for you. Or a short music break. Don’t skip the lunch break. And, if you want to make the lunch break better, take your bike with you at the office and take a bike ride to a restaurant you like during the lunch break.

Now that we talked to you about the importance of taking time off from work and we walked you through some options, we’re pretty sure you will take time off without feeling guilty anymore.

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Shut the Water Off

It is Murphy’s Law that if you have a burst pipe, it will happen while you are on vacation. You can avoid this disaster by shutting off the water supply to your house before you leave on your sailing trip. There is a valve in the house that will shut off all the water to the interior of the house. The valve is usually located in the basement. This valve will not shut off outside water, so your automatic sprinklers will still keep your lawn healthy while you are gone.

Check Your Sump Pump

A burst water pipe is not the only thing that can cause flooding while you are away on your sailing vacation. A flash flood can quickly flood a basement. Make sure your house is ready for this by checking the sump pump before you leave.

Adjust the Thermostat

You can save some money on your electric bill by turning the thermostat to a lower or higher setting. Turn the temperature down to 50 degrees if you are going sailing in the winter. Turn it up to 90 degrees if you are going in the summer. This will save you a bundle on your energy bill while you are gone, but it won’t allow the temperature to get extreme enough to do any damage to the house.

Unplug Things

Another great way to save electricity while you are on a sailing trip is to go around the house and unplug things. Many electronic devices continue to draw power even when they are not in use. Unplug almost everything in the house. The only thing that you really need to leave plugged in is the refrigerator.

Leave the Lights On

English: J/42 cruising and racing sailboat sailing upwind in Penobscot Bay, Maine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If your home is not protected by a home security system, you may wish to leave some lights on to deter burglars. You can set these lights up on a timer. Set the timer so the lights go on when it gets dark. Have the timer set so the lights then turn off around your normal bedtime. This trick is a great way to fool prowlers that might be otherwise tempted tor strike while you are away sailing.

Store Valuables

You may want to put your most valuable items under lock and key at a storage facility while you are gone. This will keep you from worrying about them wile you are sailing on the ocean.

Author: Madyson Grant – Follow her on Google+

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