Give Me a Break...

Unlike many other industrialized countries, American workers are less likely to take full advantage of earned vacation days. Commonly shared reasons include being short staffed, not being able to afford to, fear of layoffs, & fear of being seen as less committed. Although studies show far less productivity at work than we claim, the same rationale tends to be applied to daily breaks (or sometimes even lunch).

However, research indicates that quality breaks & vacations from work can have great physical health, mental health, & productivity benefits! They don't have to be long, complex, or expensive to be effective. Even a 5 or 10 minute break or a 24 hour vacation can help... While "breaking", aim to:
- disconnect from technology.
- be social or spend time alone (whichever recharges you).
- be active (e.g., walk, stretch, etc.).

Learn (or teach your boss) more at:
- WebMD's Give Yourself a Break Today
- Huffington Post's You've Been Taking Breaks All Wrong
- Psychology Today's Take a Vacation for Your Health.

Don't forget to check out our prior blog posts for active vacation (& staycation) ideas or tips about eating healthy while on the road. (The search box on the left sidebar is great for this.) Happy travels (both real & imagined)!