5 Reasons Why Taking A Holiday Is A Great Idea

All work and no play may not make you dull, but it will undoubtedly tire you out and wear you down much quicker, than if you decided to take a little holiday here and there. Using your holiday leave need not make you feel guilty! In fact, it should be quite the opposite. Great leaders like Richard Branson, understand that holidays are necessary. Branson takes the majority of August off from Virgin, without fail, to spend time with his family and friends. And, he even introduced unlimited holidays for his staff, so that they can manage their own workload and wellbeing.

You will be more motivated

Booking a holiday or enjoying a ‘staycation’ on a regular basis will ensure that you maintain your motivation throughout your workday. If you know that you are off next week, then you will twice as hard to complete the work in time. Your productivity will actually increase, and you will be more satisfied at work because you can take that holiday without worrying about what is happening in the office in your absence. Without motivation, it can be hard to get up in the morning, let alone drag yourself to work and complete those tasks with a smile. Motivation is necessary – whatever position you hold in the company.

You will face less stress

Working all day, every day, can be stressful; as is trying to juggle work and home life continuously without ever taking a break. Your health needs you to take it down a notch and find some time to relax. Leave the stress at the office door, and be prepared to not think about your job until you re-enter the workspace in a week or two. Stress can affect your overall productivity and health, and it can lead to more significant problems such as constant fatigue and lack of concentration. Working from a more relaxed perspective will improve your efficiency and your creativity.

You will come back with new ideas

Even if you are not working, you cannot help but think about work while you are off. That’s just a part of life! We don’t necessarily condone regularly checking emails while you are absent, but casually thinking about processes and procedures in a more relaxed environment can enable you to develop some great ideas for when you return. It is quite amazing what a change of scenery can do. Creativity can be difficult to muster at the best of times, and when your brain is in a more relaxed state, it gives you space for the plentiful ideas to flow.

You can spend more time with friends and family

Work/life balance continues to be a struggle for everyone, including me! Using your holiday leave releases some of that pressure and allows you to hang out with your friends and family without having to return to work, or be interrupted by phone calls or emails. You can enjoy long walks, dine at your favourite restaurant or just lounge around at home. Make your relationships a priority and catch up with friends that you haven’t seen in a while. Reminiscing about good times, and associating with friends who make you smile, can benefit your wellbeing tremendously.

Your sleep will improve

If you are stressed at work or continually struggling to get the tasks done, then you may not sleep very well because of it. When you take scheduled time away from the office, you will most likely find that your sleep patterns will improve, especially if you put away those electronic devices and make a habit of not browsing your emails or social media before you shut your eyes. Your natural sleep patterns can rise to the forefront and you can catch up on that much-needed sleep that you have been missing.