The Importance of Vacation in Promoting Productivity and Reducing Stress

We charge our phones when they're dead and refill the tank when it's empty, but we shouldn't forget to do the same with our most precious possessions: our body and brain.

Note: This article is taken from the writer Darius Foroux, in which he talks to us about the importance of vacation in enhancing productivity and reducing stress.

Whether you love your job or have a job you hate, you're making an effort, and living by yourself is a tough job, too. Just waking up in the morning can be daunting, not to mention all our responsibilities to bear.

Why to make your life harder by not taking time off to recharge your energy?

I'm not talking about busy weekends or vacations. You work more than you relax. This kind of “leisure time” serves no purpose. I'm talking about rest for a particular reason which is to recharge your energy so you can keep working hard.

Life for me is about working hard, as the French writer Voltaire said, “The older I get, the more I am convinced that work is necessary; long-term work becomes one of life's greatest pleasures and replaces life's illusions.”

Rest reduces stress and improves creativity and productivity:

Scientific research shows that vacation reduces stress and burnout, which is strong evidence for taking a few days off, but there is more evidence. As you know, productivity is essential, and in the case of rest or vacation, my question is: Will I get more done when I get back from my vacation?

The answer is yes, but there is one crucial thing to consider: What does it mean to accomplish more? Time has nothing to do with getting things done. If you work more hours, you don't have to do more.

Research shows that working more hours, in general, means less productivity and the reason is that we often waste time if we have more of it. If I tell you to have a year to write an article, you will probably postpone writing it, but what if I tell you that you only have two hours? Immediately, you will think, “How can I write this article as soon as possible?”

So, having more days off and fewer work days forces you to be more efficient with your time. Research also shows vacation itself won't make you more productive. Still, when you have more vacation days, you have a strong desire to accomplish more things in less time. It is an excellent result for everyone. For you and your work or job, you rest for a few days, recharge your energy, and spend quality time with your family or friends. When you return to work, you are more productive.

But there's a point to be wary of: when your vacation is stressful, the positive benefits disappear, so keep the stress to a minimum on your vacation. Otherwise, you waste a perfect opportunity to relax and increase productivity.

Here are some tips that may help you organize your vacation:

1. Plan Your Vacation:

One of my friends likes to plan everything, and all the details of the day when he is on vacation, and I am exactly the opposite. When we went on a trip together a few years ago, he said: "I will spend my vacation just like you, without any planning." In the first morning, I slept until 10 am, but it turned out that he woke up early, and he was nervous because he did not have an organized schedule for his vacation, and spent the whole morning creating one. Do not try to be someone who does not fit with your personality. If you want to plan your vacation, do what suits you, but try to stay flexible because you are on vacation.

2. Make a Film:

It's a creative idea and a great memory to return to later. In addition, focusing on the photography process will direct your attention to concentrate on something specific. In this way, you will be more present now and not worry about anything else but do not shoot all day. Otherwise, you will not be present. All you need is a smartphone; just shoot things with your phone, and if you are interested in photography more, bring a suitable camera and a laptop.

3. Read a lot:

American businessman Bill Gates is famous for his reading habit, and he is also known for devoting a week to thinking (Think Week); he does nothing but read and think. He published an article about five books he read this summer. I also like to read for hours on my vacation. Reading relieves stress and makes you think, which is helpful to your mind.

4. I am Bored:

One of my favorite strategies for finding new ideas is getting bored, which seems easy because of distractions. In the past, I did everything so I wouldn't get bored, like watching TV, going out, browsing social media, etc., but did you know you can use boredom to your advantage? Instead of giving in to distractions, just give in to boredom and notice that it leads your mind to creativity.

Boredom has been accepted by one of my favorite artists of all time, Andy Warhol. You can tell by the boring movies he has made or his book, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, from being bored. So, when my creativity stops, I do nothing; try it this way, as it's a great strategy, and you might come up with a great innovation in your field.

In conclusion, there is no right time to take a vacation:

Excuses for not taking a lot of vacation:

• “I just need to finish this project.”
• “My boss won't give me time off.”
• “People will think I'm lazy.”
• “I don't have much time.”

I've been through the same thing, but what do you prefer, to keep working without rest, or take a break before you get tired? Life is long, so think about it in the long run.