Making the Effort to Have a Good Balance Between Work and Life is Important

Having just come back from a week long vacation in Daytona Beach, Florida, with my wife and daughter, and witnessing the Tesla Space launch, I don’t have to tell you how important it is to take advantage of scheduling time away to relax and enjoy your well-deserved vacation time.  After suffering from a long and cold winter and “cabin fever”, it was just so awesome to finally be in warm, sunny weather.  But believe it or not, research studies show that more than half of Americans let paid time off to go unused.  The ironic thing about that is that the studies also show that vacationing, ultimately “increases productivity and creativity.”

Shannon Torberg, PsyD LP, (author of the article Taking vacation is good for your health—really!), reported that employees taking breaks and vacation, “have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals.”  Aside from achieving the obvious “mental and physical benefits”, taking a vacation is crucial to motivating employees to accomplish more in less time, while the added bonus of being away from your usual surroundings inspires greater creativity.  All of this leads to healthier, happier and more successful Associates.

According to Shannon Torberg, PsyD LP, here is a “CliffNotes” list of some of the additional benefits of taking time away from work:

• Improved physical health
• Improved mental health
• Greater well-being 
• Increased mental power 
• Improved familial relationships 
• Decreased burnout 
• Planning alone boosts happiness

Reference Shannon Torberg, PsyD LP, Taking vacation is good for your health—really! article in full, as well as read the individual details of the aforementioned additional benefits.

Ms. Torberg Shannon’s article summarizes that, “taking time away from the stresses of work and daily life can improve our health, motivation, relationships, job performance, and perspective and give us the break we need to return to our lives and jobs refreshed and better equipped to handle whatever comes.”  My vacation was timely, as I am refreshed & energized to enthusiastically embark upon and participate in a massive February through June lab equipment move for our largest client.