Memorial Day Weekend is right around the corner and at Garden Media we’re finalizing our travel plans, getting excited to visit family or friends, or simply looking forward to a long, relaxing weekend.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for everyone.

Project Time Off, a movement powered by the US Travel Association, encourages people to take a vacation. Research shows that year after year, fewer Americans are using all of their allotted vacation hours. While many think skipping out on vacation and working extra hours is beneficial for their careers, it may actually have the opposite effect.

Read more to learn how going on vacation can improve your business.

Health Benefits

We all know work can be stressful. While a little bit of stress at work can increase adrenaline and serve as a motivator, too much stress is never a good thing. Stress can build up after working long days with no time off, often leading to health problems.

Being on vacation can have similar effects as meditation, and can play a positive role in improving your immune system. It has even been shown to improve heart health. Taking some much needed time off reduces stress levels, therefore decreasing risk of high blood pressure and hypertension.

Plan a getaway to your favorite spot and watch your mood increase instantly. Not only will you have something to look forward to, you will return much happier and calmer.

Work Benefits

While it may seem contradictory, time away from work can actually make you more productive. Take a break to allow your brain to reset, refocus and come back to work full of energy.

In many creative fields, especially public relations, coming up with new, exciting ideas can be challenging. We all know how it feels when you’ve hit a wall and you’re stuck sitting behind a screen. Take a trip, explore your surroundings, change your perspective and think outside the box – or the office. These are all great methods to ignite creativity.

Here are some tips that will make your vacation even more enjoyable:

• Plan Ahead. With a well thought out plan, leaving your desk for a few days won’t seem so daunting. Finish essential work and be sure your coworkers are up to date on your workload before you leave. Plus, the planning is half the fun!
• Encourage Others. One of the biggest reasons employees aren’t taking vacations is because they fear it is frowned upon by management. It’s important for management to understand the benefits of vacation and not only allow it, but encourage it.
• Truly Disconnect. While the advent of technology makes it almost impossible to completely disconnect, do your best to leave your work at work. In order to put your nerves at ease, set aside just a few minutes a day to check in on your email. Otherwise, try to keep work calls and emails to a minimum for pure relaxation.

With these tips in mind, you’ll return to the office happier, more energetic and ready to work. Happy traveling!

To learn more about the importance of health and wellness, download our 2017 Garden Trends Report!