Why You Should Take A Break

Why It's Important To Take A Break

Sometimes a quick break can come in the form of doing something you enjoy for a few minutes. This may be the best option for those who simply can't take time off, although longer breaks can be important for stress relief if at all possible. ULTRA F/ Getty Images

We all need to take a break sometimes. Oddly, though, many people leave their vacation time unused. Whether you take a vacation, a staycation, or a play-cation, it's important to take a break from the job, the routine, and the demands of life in order to keep stress levels in check. When we take a break, we're not shirking responsibility; we're taking care of ourselves so we'll have the stamina to be our best.

Here's why it's important to take a break.

Take A Break For Stress Relief

Letting stress build up can be unhealthy in several ways. The body is designed to respond to short bursts of stress, but when stress is prolonged and the stress response is triggered repeatedly and on a regular basis -- as can happen in a stressful job or a conflict-ridden relationship --the situation turns into one of chronic stress, where the real health problems set in. Those who experience chronic stress are more susceptible to conditions ranging from more frequent headaches and gastrointestinal issues to more serious conditions like high blood pressure, which brings an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. When our allostatic load, or overall level of stress, accumulates to a certain level, stress can just snowball because we're constantly in a state of reactivity. At this point, even positive events can feel overwhelming if they take energy to enjoy, and we're not able to respond from a place of strength and wisdom, but rather from a place of anxiety, or we work on auto-pilot.

How It Helps To Take A Break

Vacations and even shorter breaks where we get some physical and psychological 'space' from the demands of life can bring many rewards. Obviously, we feel less stress when we're not in a stressful environment. But vacations bring more than that: they interrupt the cycle of stress that can lead to being overwhelmed.


When Do You Need To Take A Break?

Sometimes, it's obvious when a vacation is necessary. But other times, the stress we experience can sneak up on us, and we may be less able to recognize when we're at risk for overwhelm and burnout. Because we all respond to stress in unique ways, our signs of overwhelm may be unique as well. However, there are some general warning signs that apply in most cases. If you're experiencing one or more of the following, it's a good idea to start planning some down time, even if it's in the form of a weekend 'staycation' to recharge your batteries: lack of energy, lack of motivation, more frequent frustration, feeling 'fuzzy-headed', mild health issues or sleep disturbances due to stress.


Options For Taking A Break



A real break, in the classic sense of the word, taking a vacation is more important than many people realize, which is why many vacation days go unused when they should be enjoyed to the fullest. The key to a restful vacation is to prioritize rest and fun when you go; don't overbook yourself with tourist activities or bring so much work with you that by the time you return you feel you need a vacation from your vacation! Read on for more restful vacation tips.




Few people talk about having a playcation, but it's a great idea: stay home, but make it fun! The difference between a staycation and a playcation is that staycations tend to focus more on resting and relaxing, while playcations are for -- you guessed it -- fun! With the hard work and stressful routines that characterize many people's lifestyles, it's important to have some fun (like Billy Crystal did to 'get his smile back' in the classic movie City Slickers) as a way to recharge your batteries and be sure you're enjoying life. You can devote several days to taking a playcation, or just be sure you pepper in some fun on a regular basis. Here's more on playcation strategies.

Short Breaks:

Sometimes we just need to take a break from stress long enough to disrupt the body's stress response cycle, and then get back into the action. For quicker options, you might want to take a hike or a bike ride, enjoy a movie, or even have a 5-minute meditation session. With these ideas for quick breaks, you'll have several ideas from which to choose.

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