LIFESTYLE
 When
faced with a seemingly insurmountable pile of paperwork or
another gridlocked commute, it's common to utter the phrase,
“I need a vacation.” Yet how often that need goes
tragically unmet! How long has it been since you've abandoned
your BlackBerry in favor of a few days—or weeks—of
uninterrupted bliss? More than likely it's been too long.
If so, you're not alone: according to a recent survey, Americans
not only get the least amount of vacation days when compared
to our global counterparts, we use the least. “Employed
U.S. adults will leave an average of three vacation days on
the table, in essence giving back more than 460 million vacation
days in 2008,” says the Vacation Deprivation? survey
commissioned by Expedia.
America is the only industrialized
nation without a minimum paid leave law in place; most countries
provide their workforce with between 20 and 25 days of mandatory
vacation per year. Because of this, we have become a culture
that shuns vacations as unnecessary extravagance—what
Joe Robinson, author of “Work to Live: The Guide to
Getting a Life,” calls an “overwork culture.”
Joe Robinson is the founder of the Work to Live Vacation Campaign,
an organization whose proposal includes a required three weeks
of paid vacation every year (four weeks, once you've been
at a job for three years). It seems like a lot, but would
actually just bring us up to par with workforces worldwide.
Workaholics may be admired by their peers for their dedication,
tenacity, and willingness to go that extra mile—but
at what cost? Their health, their sanity, and the love of
their job? Besides, overworked people may be present, but
how effective can you be at your job if you're feeling chronically
exhausted? They may sound like rationalizations, but the reasons
why we need vacations are actually very legitimate. A few
days of fun and relaxation provide us with more than just
a couple of cheesy souvenirs and an album full of photos;
vacations are good for:
Your physical health.
Overwork can lead to serious consequences, such as heart disease.
Regularly taking an extended breather will lower stress levels,
which in turn lessen your risk for stress-related illnesses
and chronic conditions, which in turn will tack valuable years
onto your life.
Your mental health.
A 2007 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Harvard
Medical School put America at the top of the list when it
comes to depressed and mentally disordered countries. Other
major studies have shown that people are happier and feel
more well-adjusted when they regularly take time for themselves;
one study in New Zealand found that workers sleep better after
a vacation, and their workplace alertness increases by 30
to 40 percent. Vacations are an ideal opportunity for self-reflection
and meditation, and allow your mind to “check out”
for a while and your batteries to recharge.
Your relationships.
Too much workload can cause strain and resentment between
spouses and family members who feel overlooked. Enjoying a
good time with your loved ones will strengthen bonds, and
build fond, lasting memories. The “fun family vacation”
is all too quickly becoming a relic of the past.
Your job performance.
When it seems like all you do is work, it's easy to feel burned
out and burdened with your professional obligations. Getting
away for a few days will not only give you a much-needed break,
but you'll return to work feeling refreshed – and may
even be able to think more creatively.
Your community.
Time-stressed people have less opportunity to volunteer, build
connections with neighbors, and provide guidance to young
people. If you've got more free time, you'll be more likely
to use some of it for the greater good.
 “Vacation”
doesn't necessarily mean suitcases and reservations; we are
in a recession, after all. If a flight to Fiji isn't in the
cards, just master the frugal art of the “staycation.”
Turn off your phone and e-mail notifications, and just spend
the day loafing around the house or around town—as inaccessible
as you would be if you were, say, stretched out on a beach
with a frosty beverage. Sticking around means no navigating
through crowded airports, no tipping left and right, and none
of the nasty surprises that can sometimes come from drinking
foreign water. And knowing that you didn't blow thousands
of bucks on a ritzy retreat can provide peace of mind. Just
keep in mind that even though you haven't packed your bags,
you are on holiday; don't fill the free hours with projects
that will just tire you out. Your vacation is not the time
to sort through those old receipts or purge your file cabinet
of junk. You wouldn't be doing those things on a vacation
in Cancun or Honolulu, so don't do them on a staycation either.
A
break is a break, no matter where you take it—do yourself
a favor and reap the benefits. After all, you've no doubt
heard the phrase that Jack Nicholson's character made famous
in Stephen King's “The Shining”: “All work
and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” And just look at
what happened to Jack.
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