Time Off Is Serious Business: How Leisure Boosts Workers' Health And Productivity

Americans are taking less and less time off work — 40 years ago, they took an average of 20 days a year and today, it's just 16. Are you "married to your job", not taking the full number of days off you are entitled to, working from home when you shouldn't be, and even working seven days a week, for instance because you are self-employed?

If you're stuck on constant work-eat-sleep treadmill without taking the time to bond with those who matter to you most and just enjoy yourself and rest, numerous studies confirm that you are placing both your mental and physical health at risk. Conversely, people who take time off regularly are happier, more motivated, more productive, have higher morale, and are healthier. 

The Health Benefits Of Taking Time Off Work

Work is, of course, the single biggest cause of stress for many people: pressure to perform, worries about a heavy workload, concerns over job instability and conflicts with co-workers and bosses all take their toll. When you're seriously stressed out, the most common bits of advice offered will include removing the cause of stress and taking time to care for yourself by resting and engaging in activities you enjoy. That's sound advice, and the answer is to take time off work. The American Psychological Association released a study confirming that taking time off work does a great deal to alleviate stress. 

Another study concluded that female workers who vacation less often than every two years aren't just more likely to report high stress levels, they're actually more likely to be clinically depressed too. Those who vacation every year, meanwhile, are less prone to stress and depression and also said they were both less tired and happier in their marriages. 

Men who didn't take time off work several years were found, in yet another study, to have a 30 percent increased risk of a heart attack. Women apparently have eight times increased odds of developing coronary artery disease or suffering a heart attack if they don't take a vacation for six years, in comparison to women who take time off work at least twice a year. A separate and very large study of 12,000 men who were already at a high risk of coronary heart disease showed that those who took regular vacations saw their risk plummet. 

Is Our Workaholic Culture Destroying Our Families?

In a study of American children of working parents entitled The Work Martyr’s Children: How Kids Are Harmed by America’s Lost Week, a full 75 percent of kids reported that their parents bring work home, with nearly 86 percent saying that their parents' stress over work spilled into their home life. Our kids are pretty forgiving — 86 percent also said that they understood their parents' need to continue working from home. 

Being understanding when your work life intrudes on your family life doesn't mean your kids aren't disappointed, however, as 59 percent of surveyed kids said they felt disappointment when their parents prioritized their work over spending time with them. The same survey revealed that kids' stress levels go down with parents spend leisure time with them, and that the vast majority of all children would like their parents to be deeply involved in their lives. Yes, even the teens. 

READ Workaholism and Its Impact on Your Personal Life

Of course, most of us simply have to work, and that's not all bad for kids either — having two working parents tends to offer kids more material comforts, as well as the confidence that they themselves can succeed in the workplace one day. The key is to find the right work-life balance, and even taking one extra day off work can make a huge difference to your kids. Of the kids who took part in the survey, 58 percent could recall the last event that mattered to them that their parents missed.

How Your Time Off Benefits Your Employer

Using all the days off you have makes you healthier, reducing your risk of heart disease, stress, and depression, and leads to better relationships within your own family as well as increased satisfaction with your social life. What's that got to do with your employer, though? What do they care whether your personal life is happy and healthy? Well, actually — taking time off work regularly doesn't just benefit you in the private sphere, but also at work. Your employer certainly cares about that. 

Why Don't We Take More Time Off?

One survey of Baltimore, Maryland workers who had the right to paid leave offered some telling insights into the reasons more Americans don't make use of the time off they they are entitled to, that they earned, that they indeed deserve. Though 94 percent of those surveyed said they knew why taking time off was important, 41 percent still said they weren't planning on using all of their paid leave. Why? Most thought they were irreplaceable, the only ones who could do their job, while many also feared returning to a huge pile of work that would leave them more overwhelmed than they were before taking time off. 

What Does Your Employer Really Think About You Taking Time Off?

It's sad that workers don't make use of the paid leave they're entitled to, in part because your employer may not necessarily feel the way you think they do about your time off! Those workers who take time off regularly have a more positive attitude towards their jobs, and are more likely to be loyal to their employers. What's more, rested workers are more motivated, showing increased productivity and performance. Employers know this all too well — 91 percent of senior business leaders are aware that workers who take time off come back to their jobs feeling recharged and renewed, ready to deliver the results their employers are hoping for. 

READ 5 Anti Stress Relaxation Techniques

Taking time of benefits your mental and physical health. It benefits your family life and your relationships with your children. Still feel guilty about asking for a day off? Just remember that it benefits your productivity and motivation at work too, having a direct positive impact on your employer's bottom line. Time off — take it, because it's a win-win for everyone.