The Importance of Taking a Break

Introduction

Taking a break from work and going on a holiday can have a lot of benefits. It helps increase the sense of well-being and productivity in general as well. In this blog, I will go over five benefits of why taking occasional breaks from your work-life can improve both your personal and professional life. Note that this will not be the usual “Data-Sciency” blog but more of a general one.

Relaxation and Stress Reduction

Holidays provide a great opportunity to unwind, relax, and escape from the daily routine. Sometimes people do not realise how stressful it might be until they are away from it. Stepping away from the usual routine every once in a while can help reduce stress levels and enhance our mental and emotional health^[1].

Improved Physical Health

Holidays are great times for people to engage in all the physical activities that they like, or sometimes the opposite as well. Some people might not get enough sleep on a daily basis because of work and/or life in general, and holidays might be the best time to catch up on the sleep since good sleep in general helps improve our physical health^[2]. The other way in which holidays can help improve physical health is by engaging into physical activities such as exploring new places or doing outdoor adventures (e.g., hiking, diving, etc.). Physical activities and proper rest during holidays can contribute to the overall health of a person^[3].

Enhanced Creativity and Productivity

Taking a break from all the daily stressors gives your mind an opportunity to fully rest. If you visit new places or countries during holidays, you will learn a lot about different cultures and ways of doing things. Sometimes you might just appreciate what you already have just by being away from it. Holidays can provide the time and mental space required for the brain to fully recharge^[4]. This reduces the risk of having burnouts. When you return and get back to work, you often time find yourself more creative, productive, and focused as well.

Strengthening Relationships

Holidays are great times to really bond with people. Sometimes people do not really get to sit down and have a decent chat with their family or friends because of their work-life. While on a break, you really get to spend quality time and share experiences with your loved ones. This helps strengthen your relationships and also provides opportunities to create long lasting memories. You can also meet and learn a lot from other people during holiday trips. Sometimes people you meet on vacation trips might end up being lifelong friends.

Broadening Perspectives

Visiting new places during holidays exposes you to different cultures, ways of living, and language barriers. In short, it can take you out of your comfort zone. These situations helps you to learn a lot about yourself; your strengths and/or weaknesses, or simply areas in your life that can be improved. Being out there helps in broadening your perspectives and is good for your personal growth^[5]. You may also develop a more open-minded outlook about life in general and gain a deeper appreciation for diversity.

Conclusion

To conclude, I just want to emphasise that holidays do not always mean long vacations. Even short trips or “staycations” can provide the same benefits that were described in this blog. If you want to change the fruits (positive changes in life), you will first have to change the roots (be in a better mental space)^[6]. Eventually, the goal is to find the right balance between working and actually living so as to maintain overall wellbeing and happiness in life.

Thank you for taking your time to read my blog.

Cheers All!