Now is the perfect time for a vacation. Seriously.
It’s even more important to take
a break in crazy times, expert says
Right now, cruises are terrifying, planes are a minefield, and gatherings are subject to strict restrictions. Many of us have seen our income take a significant hit. Moving from state to state can mean quarantining, while crossing the Atlantic may be impossible this summer.
You might think all this means now is a truly lousy time to plan a vacation, but Tonya Dalton strongly disagrees.
The productivity expert and author of “The Joy of Missing Out” said it’s important to take a break in stressful times, even if that just means a staycation with your loved ones and a pile of books.
That might be a tough message for many Americans to hear. Even before the pandemic hit, we were a famously vacation-averse nation, leaving hundreds of millions of paid vacation days on the table and working more than employees in any other developed nation. That was always a recipe for burnout, but not finding time to decompress is even more destructive during high-stress periods like the one we’re experiencing now.
“Let’s reframe how we look at vacation,” Dalton said. “Instead of thinking that it’s just this frivolous time away, choose to look at it as an investment in your own mental and sometimes physical well-being. It actually makes you more productive, invigorated and excited about the work you’re going to do.”
Dalton sees the positive effects of time off in her own work coaching busy executives and entrepreneurs. But the destructive effects of skipping out on vacation are also well-documented by science. They include an increased risk of depression, decreased productivity, and even, in the longer term, less career advancement. All of us, I think, could use less depression and more energy and optimism at the moment.
Hopefully, all of that has convinced you to take a break from working through the summer. But even if your will to take time off is strong, practical hurdles remain. Financial constraints and a contagious virus may keep you from traveling far from home. That’s OK, according to Dalton, who said she believes staycations have a couple of distinct advantages.
One, they’re actually relaxing. “I think sometimes when we get on a plane and we fly somewhere else, we feel like we’ve got to do all the things there. We’ve got to check all the boxes, see all the sights, do all the adventures. And then you come back from your vacation, and you’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m exhausted. I need a vacation from my vacation,’ ” Dalton said.
This is the time to explore less hardcharging vacation options. “Look into the meditation class that you’ve been looking at, try that new yoga series you’ve been wanting to try out, or read those books that have been sitting on your nightstand for months and months on end,” Dalton said. She also recommends exploring local attractions you’ve been meaning to check out but never get around to visiting.
And even if relaxation does shade into boredom while you’re off, that’s a net positive, too. “Boredom is one of the best things for our creativity. Allowing time for open spaces for your brain to play and explore is incredibly beneficial,” Dalton said.
So don’t let a global pandemic keep you from slacking off a little this summer. Vacation will look different than in past years for many of us, but taking time to truly unplug is more important than ever. Embrace the constraints, and you’ll come back to work feeling recharged after what has been an undeniably tough first half of the year.