-
Guess what?
All my work was still there waiting for me upon my return.
-
Guess what?
The world did not end and my company kept moving forward without me.
-
Guess what?
Some co-workers may have actually missed me (or so they said – but they did
seem to be happy I was back).
-
Guess what?
I did not disconnect for 10 days, but I did what I call the “stress reducing
disconnect” (every morning before most of my family was awake, I would jump
online and go through my emails. Yes, I helped things to keep moving at work –
but more importantly to alleviate my own stress of what would await me if I
stayed offline for 10 days).
What does all this
mean? It means many of us generally think we are more needed than we
actually are. I do not mean that in a sarcastic way, I mean it as the
reality of our world today. And if we take this into account, we can then
begin to enjoy the precious time with family that we have. For those of
us working 52 weeks per year, many of us only enjoy 3-5 weeks of time
off. That is 6-10% of your time not at work. So, let’s take that
6-10% of our time and enjoy ourselves.
Here is why:
Here is why:
-
Vacations relive
stress, prevent illness, improve your sleep and may even make you happier.
-
Vacations also
make you more productive at work and may even MAKE YOU A BIT LIGHTER AROUND THE
MIDSECTION. (so for me I may need to take off a few years…)
Getting away from ongoing
stress and fatigue can help relieve the pressure we put on our bodies.
The stress hormones are reduced and the happy endorphins take over.
Science.
There have been many studies
which show that regular vacations can help us improve our sleep by 15-25% and
we sleep longer on vacation – up to an hour more per night AND this carries
over when we come back. Science.
My friend David Rock has
taught me a lot of neuroscience over the last five years. Science
actually says that our brains can be chronically altered by constant stress
which can lead to depression. Vacations counteract some of these issues
and studies have shown people who take regular vacations are 3 times less
likely to be depressed. Science.
I know it may seem counter
intuitive, but research has shown that taking regular vacation may actually
make you more productive. You also take less sick days if you use your
vacation. Science.
And… about that mid
section. Many of us admit to eating as a response to stress.
Usually that eating is not fruit or vegetables. Stress
hormones such as cortisol are linked to increased belly fat and weight gain,
which is linked to heart disease. Studies have shown, people who regularly
vacation feel more energized and active. They were also found to
have improved glucose levels and even had some weight loss around their
bellies. Science.
I encourage you to take
advantage of regular vacations — your life will be more interesting, well-rounded
and enjoyable!
So, what did I learn:
-
Guess what?
I loved hanging out with my wife and four twentyish boys who loved to be active
– atv’s, parasailing, jet skis, paddle boards, etc.
-
Guess what?
I had great quality conversations with my wife over some nice cold drinks in
lovely outdoor cafes.
-
Guess what?
I had nice walks with my wife.
-
Guess what?
I slept in, went to bed early, went to bed late. It was nice.
-
Guess what?
I learned a lot about the Spanish and Puerto Rican cultures.
-
Guess what?
I love my family and love to hang out with them. Time is precious.
-
Guess what?
I laughed, I smiled, I joked, I relaxed.
Vacations matter. Take one. Let me know about your favorite
adventure.
Dave Harmon
People Division
“Kindness is Currency”
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidharmonhr
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