Refueling Your Mind and Body With A Day Off

Americans seem to be busier than ever, and it's taking a toll on their well-being and mental health. Being busy can lead to feeling overworked and exhausted. Ask yourself whether you have experienced any of these conditions in the past week or two:

• sleeplessness
• scattered thoughts/inability to concentrate
• low energy
• short temper

Certainly, these feelings can be caused by other conditions, but if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's worth considering whether you need a break. Recognizing that you are feeling overworked and taking action to address your stress level can give you an energy boost that can increase productivity, relieve emotional exhaustion, and increase your mental well-being. It is important to create a work/life balance that makes sense for you.

Finding the Time

Many traditional jobs offer paid time off (PTO)—the trouble is that American workers tend not to take it. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020), 79% of American workers have access to PTO, but according to Factorial HR (2020), 55% do not use all of it.

What's worse is that many self-employed American workers, such as farmers and small business owners, don't have the option of taking PTO. In fact, if you fall into one of those categories, you may not even think you have the option of unpaid time off. The truth is that taking time off if you are self-employed isn't as easy as if you work for someone else. It takes planning. But it's no less important. Even if you take only one day off on a somewhat regular basis, you will likely see both a physical and mental improvement. You just need to be deliberate.

Ways to Make It Happen

First, you need to plan how best you can take the time away without feeling guilty or worrying about getting behind on the farm or at your small businesses. Here are a few strategies that you could try:

• Use a calendar to plan days off well ahead of time, making note of times of the year that may be more conducive to taking time off.
• Train a neighbor, a friend, or a local teenager whom you trust to handle the tasks for those days that you may be away.
  • Have that person work alongside of you for a day or two so you can feel confident they understand what needs to be done.
  • Create detailed instructions and a schedule for them to follow for each day you will be away.
  • Leave with them a way to contact you in case of an emergency.

Planning Your Time Off

Now that you feel comfortable taking the break, you should prioritize what would be the most helpful way for you to use the time off. Here are some options:

• Prioritize errands and organize them by location. This will allow you to be efficient.
• Schedule medical appointments. (Scheduling them as far in advance as possible will likely allow you to request a time that works best for you.)
• Complete a project that has been on your to-do list for a long time. You might be surprised at how good the sense of accomplishment will make you feel.

But what if you don't want or need a day off to run errands or complete other tasks? That doesn't mean that you still can't benefit from taking some time for yourself and your family.

• If you are on a budget or are otherwise limited, plan a staycation where you and your family/friends can do only minimal chores; then plan a day trip to a nearby attraction or camp in the backyard. This will keep you close by and still allow you some time to relax.
• If you have the ability, spend a day away by yourself or with loved ones.

The bottom line is that whichever way you choose to spend your time off is the right choice. Remember that a healthier you is a happier you, and a happier you is a more productive you when you return to your work. Give yourself a break. You have earned it. 

References

• Factorial HR. (2020, March 10). Which states in the USA offer the most paid time off? Factorial Blog.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020, July 28). 79 percent of private industry workers had access to paid vacation leave in March 2019. TED: The Economics Daily.