It is no secret that we live in a society that places a high value on hard work and professional achievement. However, our productivity levels and the amount of time and effort that we put into earning a living are certainly not the only measures of a successful or fulfilling life.
Too much time and focus spent on work can lead to pretty serious adverse outcomes in our personal lives. We, humans, need more than just the annual summer beach getaway to recharge our batteries.
Let’s take a look at some of the top signs that you need to plan a winter vacation ASAP.
Your Health Is Not What It Used to Be
If the last two years of global pandemic concerns have taught us nothing else, they should have shown us how important our own health and well-being and that of our loved ones indeed are. The fact is that stress is one of the biggest culprits behind many of the deadliest health problems in our society today. Though stress may not be the direct cause of disease and illness, it plays a significant role in making adverse health conditions much worse.
Chronic stress and exhaustion weaken our body’s natural immune defenses making us more susceptible to all manner of illnesses, from COVID to the common cold and everything in between.
So before you insist that you cannot afford to take time off from work for a winter getaway, take a moment to consider the fact that taking a week off to destress and recharge your batteries now could save you from being sidelined by a serious illness down the line.
You Feel Tired All Of The Time
We have all experienced that unpleasant sensation of waking up from a whole night’s sleep only to wake up feeling just as exhausted as you did when you went to bed. No amount of caffeine or sugar can overcome this bone-deep mental and physical exhaustion for long.
Left to continue for long periods of time, you end up facing more significant problems of increased anxiety, irritability, and insomnia that leave you going through the motions of your day like a zombie in a permanent brain fog.
Our productivity is hardly at all-time highs when we are in this state of perpetual exhaustion.
Your Loved Ones Are Starting To Feel Neglected
It is easy to take our dearest loved ones for granted. We assume that our relationships are so strong that they must know that we love them even when we are too busy with work to spend quality time together.
This belief has been the cause of the demise of many happy marriages and close friendships. We, humans, are social animals, and we need to form close and meaningful relationships with others to lead fulfilling and happy lives. While we may interact with tens, or even hundreds, of people in our everyday lives, the close interpersonal bonds that we share with our families and most intimate personal friends truly sustain us.
These close personal bonds require our time and attention to remain strong, so it is imperative to our happiness and the happiness of those we love that we take the time to nurture these essential personal relationships.
Thoughts Of Work Occupy All Your Waking Moments
We discussed the importance of spending time with friends and family; however, it is essential to note that it requires more than just time spent in the same space to maintain a personal relationship.
If your thoughts are constantly focused on work concerns, whether you are at the office or home with the family, you cannot truly relax and enjoy your time at home or out with your family and friends.
The inability to switch off our work brains at the end of the day and be fully present for ourselves and our loved ones is one of the surest signs that the balance between our work and our personal life has shifted too far to one side and needs to be brought back into balance.
Taking The Hassle Out Of Vacation Planning
So, now that we know how important rest and relaxation can be to our health and well-being and the health and well-being of those who matter most, how do we carve time out of a busy work schedule to decompress?
It is easier than you think if you think local. However, a vacation does not have to involve flying across the country or around the globe. There are many ways to relax and get away from the daily grind without leaving your state.
Consider a nearby vacation rental or cozy bed & breakfast. There are plenty of rentals in Ohio to choose from. Check out the bevy of options available through Indian Lake Rentals. From rustic log cabins to cozy cottages and even luxury estates, a vacation rental property suits every taste and budget.
If you are looking for a more adventurous retreat or remote destination, an RV vacation might just fit the bill perfectly. But, again, the broad range of choices, from pop-up campers to decked-out motorhomes with all of the comforts of home and then some, mean you should have no trouble finding the perfect RV for your travel style.