While workaholics are often celebrated for putting the pedal to the metal, all work and no play is definitely not what the doctor ordered. Overworking, while it lacks the taboo it probably should have, can have a negative impact on your brain and lead to anxiety, irritability, and depression.
Skipping vacation time may, in a perverse way, suggest a dogged commitment to your career. But long hours on the job with little to no rest won’t leave time to recharge your internal battery.
Here are five reasons why skipping vacation time could adversely affect your health.
1. Levels of Chronic Stress May Increase
If you insist on skipping vacations, your body won’t have time to properly unwind. You’ll always be stressed out. The American Institute of Stress estimates that around eight in 10 U.S. employees deal with work-related stress. Perhaps more alarming is that around half of them say they require assistance in figuring out how to manage the stress overload.
Going on holiday serves as an escape route from the pressures of the daily grind and helps rejuvenate the nervous system. You’ll come back refreshed and ready to resume your duties.
2. Mental Health Could Decline With Time
Failing to take some time off to rest can also mess with your mental health. If your company can’t function without you, that’s a problem. It’s important to build redundancy into workplace processes and procedures so that no one is irreplaceable.
The National Institute of Mental Health says that more than 20% of U.S. adults had a mental illness in 2022. That worked out to 59.3 million people, or 23.1% of the country's adult population.
While a vacation won’t automatically cure depression, it can lessen stress. And, unfortunately, chronic stress can, says the National Institutes of Health, trigger depressive episodes.
Vacations offer a chance to experience a change of atmosphere and routine, which can improve your overall mood. Having a break from responsibility may also present a chance to better appreciate what life has to offer so that you return from your trip with the right perspective.
It’s best to avoid making excuses for delaying vacations. Wherever you work, you likely have vacation time that you can take. And distance learning -- like earning online certifications -- means you can’t use schooling as an excuse to avoid getting away once in a while.
3. Physical Health Risks Could Rise with Time
Working for long periods without breaks can lead to conditions such as exhaustion, poor posture, reduced physical activity, and an unbalanced diet. This could increase the risks associated with heart conditions, obesity, and musculoskeletal disorders, among others.
Taking time off could motivate healthy activities, such as more exercise or healthier eating.
4. Quality of Sleep Frequently Affected
Work-related stress can make it hard to settle down for adequate rest and sleep at night. Disconnecting from workplace duties may be challenging. When you go away on a trip, be mindful to separate yourself from work. So, avoid even checking emails or phone calls.
Vacations are a natural resetting of a sleep schedule. There are no alarm clocks ringing in the darkness of night, work activities carried out at night, and no responsibilities to handle when one is away from home.
5. Long-Term Productivity and Performance May Decline
While it may seem that not taking vacations will improve productivity, that’s not necessarily true. Missing out on the benefits of relaxation means missing out on the ability to think clearly, which can increase the risk of workplace accidents.
Holidays help encourage the restoration process and mental refresh, which are integral to successful work performance. Workers who, from time to time, take holidays usually go back to work with their workplace engagement heightened and their problem-solving abilities improved.
It might be hard to take a break, especially for those who have stressful jobs, lack support personnel, or have their own financial concerns. However, viewing a vacation as a form of preventative health care, rather than as something that's merely nice to have, might be a way to better appreciate the benefits of booking a trip and getting away.
If you don’t take initiative by taking care of yourself, it’ll be easier for health issues to rear their ugly heads. So, go on vacation once in a while. It’ll do you a load of good.