Did you know:
Americans work an average of 9 weeks more per year than
their European peers. Europeans typically take a full month
off in the summer and the French take all of August off.
This has not destroyed their economy.
People who can't seem to relax and renew on weekends have a
higher long-term risk of dying from heart disease, a
research study in Finland suggests. Men and women who said
they "seldom" recovered from work fatigue and stress were
about three times more likely to die of heart disease or
stroke as workers who "almost always" recovered.
Other studies show that the increased stress and fatigue
from working long hours and not taking time off can lead to
weight gain, cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue,
depression and addiction to alcohol and depressants.
In the US, more than one-third of workers will take the
office with them on vacation, according to a recent
CareerBuilder.com survey. Sixteen percent of workers say
their supervisors expect them to stay in touch while on
vacation and 19 percent plan to check in voluntarily. Of
these workers, 61 percent will be checking voicemail or
email on a daily basis while on vacation.
The United States is the only industrialized country that
does not have guaranteed four weeks paid vacation.
Australia and Italy are the leaders in mandatory vacation
with 6 weeks of paid vacation regardless of how long they
have been employed.
The fastest growing economy in the world, China, offers
three weeks off. They call vacation time "Golden Weeks."
American workers are expected to give back 574 million
vacation days this year. (Expedia.com's annual vacation
deprivation survey)
Only 39% of American families will take even a weeklong
vacation next year.
Besides dramatically cutting the risk of heart disease,
vacations have a number of other health benefits. Vacations
can cure burnout and chronic stress. Time away from
stressors restores depleted emotional resources and your
sense of mastery and optimism. Studies also show that time
off increases your positive moods and your initiative and
competence. The more leisure activities you are involved in
the higher your general satisfaction with Life.
But it takes two weeks for this process to occur, so you
need to have at least that much continuous time off to get
the recuperative benefits.
It's not too late! Schedule next year's vacation now!
But that is still a long ways off. What can you do right
now for rest, relaxation, and renewal?
Take a restorative break with:
a candlelight dinner with no TV
a walk (leave the iPod home)
really listening to your favorite music
sitting on the beach just watching the waves
visiting a forest for an hour of contemplation
playing a game with your kids
getting a massage
or soaking up the moonlight before retiring at night
Even small things like this can improve your health,
happiness and productivity. Taking time out to nurture
yourself is not only a personal choice but also has public
policy implications for the productivity and well-being of
the nation.
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Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood &
Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in
Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann
is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic
Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and
a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your
physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual
natural rhythms at
http://evenstaronline.com
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