Vacations Are Necessities, Not Luxuries

Forbes

3 days ago

A businessman is relaxing at the beach
Summer Has Become Synonymous With Vacations. Warm temperatures that bathe most of the country often encourage individuals to enjoy a change of routine that leads to relaxation. Over the last year and a half, statistics show that an average of 50% of Americans had taken a respite during the summer. Whether their tastes dictate exotic travel or trips to more domestic locations, most workers in the United States will take some type of break from their professional routines.
The ritual of summer vacations raises two seminal questions: Given the competitive job market and ever-rising cost of living, are vacations economically prudent? Fundamentally, do vacations constitute necessities or mere luxuries?
Despite the conventional wisdom of earning a living at all costs, it has become increasingly evident that vacations are more than luxuries. Studies suggest that any break in the routine of work becomes a necessity that preserves life and vitality.
Workers in the United States dedicate more hours to their jobs over sustained periods than workers in other industrialized nations. The struggle to earn a living often becomes a fixation with many working an inordinate number of hours. Some individuals work more than one job to make ends meet.
The compulsion to work longer and harder has taken a toll. Incidents of burnout occur far more frequently, with some experiencing job dissatisfaction due to overwork. Perhaps the most disturbing factor resulting from overwork has been elevated stress levels. Stress, which has increased markedly for many in the American workforce, can negatively impact health. In fact, heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression represent several health issues that plague those who work incessantly.
The legal profession exemplifies the hazards of overwork without a respite. A disturbing number of lawyers who work hours on end without sufficient breaks suffer professional burnout, substance abuse, or relational disfunctions.
The totality of studies proves that individuals who work full-time on a constant basis should periodically escape their professional routines to remain vital and healthy. The benefits of vacations can be profound, including a marked improvement in physical and mental health.
Some believe that an impactful vacation requires a significant outlay of cash to finance an opulent getaway. A respite from work, however, need not take the form of an expensive sojourn. In fact, any escape from professional responsibilities can achieve the desired results of relaxation and renewal.
If resources are scarce or inescapable professional obligations prohibit extensive travel, individuals may avail themselves of less costly alternatives for vacations that are more locally based. Activities such as camping, hiking, or visiting local parks and outdoor entertainment venues can achieve desired results without having to spend a considerable amount of money. More local, yet urban recreational activities include visiting historical sites or discovering new venues such as museums, galleries, and restaurants. Experiencing these activities with friends could heighten the level of enjoyment and maximize the diversionary aspect of these outings.
An alternative that maximizes a break from routine also includes visiting nearby cities or towns. Many seldom explore sites of interest within reasonable distances from their homesteads. Exploring historical and cultural venues in adjacent venues can provide enriching experiences that do not involve extensive or cumbersome logistics.
An effective vacation could be minimalist in nature. Effective breaks from the regimen of work could include binge watching favorite movies and television programs or pursuing avocational activities such as reading a book that is unrelated to professional obligations, learning to play a musical instrument, delving into a recreational sport, or taking a cooking class.
Planning a vacation requires prudent judgment to ensure a stress-free experience. Individuals should consider carefully such tasks as home improvement projects or volunteer activities that come with exacting expectations. These activities could be as stressful as professional obligations. Similarly, vacations with relatives should maximize relaxation rather than produce anxiety.
Many individuals take only one vacation a year. A single break from the work routine, however, may not sufficiently recharge. Depending upon the stress level of a job, breaks from work should occur periodically, thereby minimizing any reoccurrences of burnout. Brief respites taken on a regular basis can be substantially beneficial.
Despite the tendency to hold the bottom line on costs, employers should recognize the inherent value of vacations and encourage their employees to take advantage of the benefit. Companies with attractive vacation policies engender loyalty from their employees, who, in return, tend to work with greater efficiency and dedication.
The benefits of vacations become symbiotic. Workers feel valued and refreshed when they return to work. Employers reap the benefit of a loyal workforce whose expertise remains with the company.
Dr. Maya Angelou, poet, actress, author, and Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, has stated: 'Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from cares which will not withdraw from us.'
Dr. Angelou's profound statement has contemporary validity. If American employers and workers recognize the benefits of vacations and pursue these respites with intelligent purpose, perhaps job satisfaction, performative efficiency, and a healthier and happier workforce would become omnipresent realities.