genesis domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /services/webpages/f/i/financialpsychologycenter.com/public/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114When it comes to using paid time off, many Americans just don\u2019t do it. In part, that\u2019s because of a major cultural narrative that hard work will allow you to reach your goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat narrative has really ground us into this workaholic sort of mentality,\u201d says Dr. Alex Melkumian, LMFT and Psy. D. \u201cIt actually became cool to work 24\/7, to be available via email all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
But this lifestyle has plenty of drawbacks and may negatively impact your mental health. Taking a vacation is an important way to\u00a0practice self care<\/a>, whether you\u2019re planning a long trip abroad or a three-day staycation.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at how taking paid time off can benefit your mental health and actually make you a better employee.<\/p>\n Even before the pandemic forced people to stay at home, workers weren\u2019t great about taking time off. A\u00a02019 Bankrate survey<\/a>\u00a0found that only 38 percent of Americans with paid vacation days planned on using all of them. And according to the\u00a0U.S. Travel Association<\/a>, Americans forfeited 236 million vacation days in 2018, which is equivalent to $65.5 billion in lost benefits.<\/p>\n Work and life can be full of daily struggles, and \u201cchronic stress negatively impacts our physical, emotional and mental health,\u201d says Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW and a financial therapist.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the negative impacts of stress increased during the coronavirus pandemic,\u00a0according to the Kaiser Family Foundation<\/a>. About 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2020 and 2021, up from 1 in 10 in 2019.<\/p>\n A vacation may counteract the effects of stress and potentially help improve your mental health. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re immersed in a different environment, all of your senses are heightened \u2014 especially if you\u2019re experiencing a different culture. Engaging your senses generally helps lower your stress, says Wendy Wright, LMFT and financial therapist.<\/p>\n On vacation, \u201cyou are constantly engaging and bombarding your five senses, so it allows new thought loops and you get a different perspective,\u201d Wright says. Breaking out of a repetitive mindset may help you cope with stress or a difficult situation in a healthier way.<\/p>\n Even with Zoom chats and phone calls, the physical distance from others left many feeling disconnected during the pandemic. A vacation provides an opportunity to strengthen the important relationships in your life, whether you\u2019re taking a trip with friends or family members. And as COVID-19 cases are falling and more people are vaccinated, the ability to safely travel with others is growing.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re often stuck in a decision-making loop that\u2019s on repeat every day at work, then you\u2019re only using some of your skills. It\u2019s a lot like the quarantine many are experiencing, \u201cwhich is why it has felt boring and also despairing; it\u2019s so repetitive,\u201d Wright says.<\/p>\n But on vacation, engaging different parts of your brain kick-starts the creative process and helps you \u201cre-enter work with some fresh ideas,\u201d Wright says.<\/p>\n Adaptable workers are flexible and can adjust to change with a positive mindset, making it a highly desirable trait in any employee or manager. Taking trips can improve that skill because \u201cit gets us out of our norm,\u201d Melkumian says. \u201cYou\u2019re being immersed in something completely different, especially if you\u2019re traveling to a place that\u2019s very different from where you usually live.\u201d<\/p>\n For example, visiting a different country may expose you to a new language, culture, transportation system and social environment. Navigating those challenges helps you become more adaptable and can increase your self-esteem.<\/p>\n Workers in the private industry receive an average of 15 paid vacation days after five years of service, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While some companies allow their workers to roll over the accrued PTO, others have a use-it-or-lose-it policy.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a financial standpoint, you should take your PTO because otherwise, you aren\u2019t taking advantage of an earned benefit,\u201d Bryan-Podvin says. \u201cIt\u2019s just as silly to not take PTO as it is to tell your boss, \u2018No thanks, I don\u2019t really want that raise.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the financial reasons to take PTO, there are other reasons it could be a good idea.<\/p>\n Employees often feel they need to work long hours to pull ahead in their careers, especially if they\u2019re just starting out. But that doesn\u2019t help you with efficiency, effectiveness or creativity. Instead, overworking yourself can lead to burnout and seriously drain your productivity.<\/p>\n Vacation helps you avoid burnout because the time away allows you to refresh your mindset and develop problem-solving tools. It also helps you set boundaries and\u00a0practice self-care at work<\/a>. In fact,\u00a0according to a Project: Time Off report<\/a>, people who use all of their PTO days have a 6.5 percent higher chance of getting a promotion or a pay raise than people who only take a few days off each year.<\/p>\nWhy your mental health needs a vacation<\/h2>\n
Vacations engage your senses<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Vacations may strengthen relationships<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Vacations can increase your creative thinking<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Taking trips increases your adaptability<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Reasons you should take your PTO<\/h2>\n
Taking PTO may lead to a promotion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Taking PTO may heal work anxiety<\/strong><\/h3>\n