Here’s the good news about December: It’s the most popular month for taking time off work. American workers take vacation time in December twice as often as almost every other month, according to an analysis by the HR firm Namely.
Now, the bad news: Many people cram their days off into the end of the year because they didn’t make time for vacations during the year. And, even worse, more than half of Americans don’t even use all their vacation days.
According to planforvacationday.com, taking vacations is crucial for mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Vacations offer cognitive benefits like improved problem-solving, creativity, and mood. Numerous studies find vacations lead to better performance, focus, and higher job satisfaction. Engaging in outdoor activities and relaxation techniques during vacations improves heart health and overall physical condition. Spiritually, vacations provide a chance to reconnect with one’s true self, leading to inner peace and personal fulfillment.
That free work may be great for employers, but it’s not healthy for employees. In fact, researchers have identified significant health risks in people who don’t take enough vacation time – serious risks like a much higher incidence of heart attacks!
So, looking ahead to next year, start planning now to use your vacation time on Mackinac Island. It’s good both for you and your boss when you take time off to rest and recharge. For one, people who use their vacation days to travel tend to be happier with their health and well-being, happier with their personal relationships and even happier with their job. And they are more productive when they return.
Besides, you earn your vacation time, just like your paycheck, so you shouldn’t be afraid to use it. Go ahead and get that vacation time on the calendar now, before the busyness of life makes you put it off until it’s too late.
6 benefits of using all your PTO
Here are some of the benefits of using your PTO to travel:
- relaxing and reducing your stress
- making memories
- having fun, excitement and adventure
- seeing your children excited about traveling
- seeing some place new or doing something new
- strengthening your relationships with your family, friends or significant other
- improving your outlook on life
- crossing an item off your bucket list
If you don’t get many vacation days, be smart about how you use them. You can piggy-back days off on national holidays to open up longer travel opportunities, like taking off the Friday before Memorial Day to get a 4-day weekend while using only one vacation day.
Holidays aside, taking off work on Fridays or Mondays creates a long weekend that’s perfect for a quick getaway any time of year. Need help planning an unforgettable Mackinac Island vacation? Start right here.
