Florida is a beautiful place to live and a beautiful place to visit. But far too many Americans don’t find the time to enjoy themselves, in Florida or anywhere else. More than half of all Americans leave vacation time on the table at the end of the year. Americans report being stressed, and they also report working too hard. If only more of us could find time to go on vacation to places like Jupiter, Florida, then we might have a better chance of keeping stress levels low.
The very fact that so many Americans insist on working too hard is causing reduced levels of productivity. When you focus too hard on school or work, you may actually be undermining the very things you’re trying to make priorities. Studies show that people who take time off are more productive and more creative when they return. In other words, hanging out at in Florida for a week or two could actually make you better at your job! Going on vacation will do you a world of good, especially if you stay active and engaged in a way that is good for your body and your mind.
You need a break
Burnout is very real. Americans who work too hard for too long can become physically and mentally exhausted. You don’t have to be doing hard physical labor to end up in a burnout situation. Any kind of work is enough to burn us out if we focus on it to the exclusion of other things that are essential to our health.
The research is clear: Vacations reduce our chances of burnout and actively make us more productive when we return. If your goal is to work as hard as possible, you should take a vacation!
Of course, even if vacation didn’t make you more productive, taking one would still be a good idea. It’s good for you!
Vacations and your health
There’s more to life than work. You work hard to support yourself and your family, but that won’t mean much if you aren’t around to enjoy it. Put yourself and your family first by caring for your health!
That means taking a break. When you relax on the beach in Jupiter or take a sunset cruise Palm Beach, you’re doing more than just having a good time. You’re actually caring for your mental health. It goes beyond just preventing burnout — lowering stress levels and letting your mind relax can have a huge impact on your overall health.
It is no exaggeration to say that stress is a deadly enemy. Stress can shorten our lives in all kinds of ways. High stress levels can make us more vulnerable to disease, can help trigger other deadly mental health problems, and can interfere with sleep and other basic functions that keep us healthy.
Giving your mind a break will have long-term health benefits. So will being active and enjoying the sun. With the proper sun protection, you’ll be benefiting physically from time outdoors. Sunlight helps our body metabolize vitamin D.
And, of course, being active on vacation is good for you. If you’re jogging, swimming, or enjoying water sports in Florida, then you’re also burning calories, strengthening muscles, and helping your heart grow stronger!
Work-life balance and long-term goals
Taking a vacation in Florida is a great first step toward a healthier lifestyle. But don’t stop there! Commit to taking relaxing vacations on a regular basis, and consider altering your schedule between vacations to find more balance in your life. You might be able to work more hours from home, for instance, or change jobs so that you have a shorter commute. Maybe you could take an online learning self-assessment and place into an online degree program that fits around your busy schedule. Or maybe work-life balance will just require you to stand up for yourself — you could stop answering those emails on the weekend, for instance, and you could stop accepting every overtime opportunity.
Your body and mind need breaks. Treat yourself to a vacation in Florida and prioritize your work-life balance at home. You’ll become more productive and will live a longer and happier life, enjoying the fruits of your labors.
