IN DEFENSE OF RELAXATION WHY YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR VACATION DAYS
If you’re one of the 50% of Americans who would prefer a higher salary over paid vacation days, then the thought of relaxing by the pool probably makes your skin crawl. According to a 2019 Allianz Global Assistance survey, most Americans would only give up their vacation days for a 48% raise, but as Forbes reports, about 1 in 5 workers would only need a 24% raise to willingly fork over their vacation days. The rise of what experts are calling “performative workaholism” is evident in the hustle-and-grind culture of working long hours, skipping lunches, working throughout the weekend, and taking very few breaks. But medical and psychological experts caution that addiction to the hustle comes at a price. Recent evidence suggests that working long hours over extended periods of time actually makes you a worse employee. As exhaustion creeps in, your ability to complete even the most mundane or simple task decreases. In those moments, it’s important to take a short break, but it’s also vital to recognize when your body needs an extended refresher. This could make you better at your job. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Norway have some of the world’s most
productive workers. Coincidentally, they also provide many vacation days.
So, what’s great about taking a vacation? Experts at a Midwestern hospital system, Allina Health, report that stepping away from work for a short period of time can decrease your risk of heart disease, improve your quality of sleep, create a better mood, and boost your relationships. Researchers in the Netherlands even found that simply planning for and anticipating a vacation can improve your happiness level! If you can’t stand the thought of taking time off, you’re not alone. More than 40% of respondents in a 2016 survey said they felt they couldn’t take a vacation because there wasn’t anyone to cover them. Communicate your concerns with your employer to find a compromise. Start slow, too. Schedule a long weekend and pack your days with activities, like getting a massage, hiking, or traveling to a local destination. Look to travel sites like Expedia, Airbnb, and Travelocity for local deals and tips on the best vacation methods. Soon, you’ll be the biggest advocate for taking time off.
MEET PRECIOUS THE CAT NAP ENTHUSIAST, TOY COLLECTOR, AND STAR WARS FANATIC
Many of us have pets. We love the joy, comfort, loyalty, and, on occasion, pure entertainment they bring us. They’re family, and they can teach us a lot about ourselves.
Precious can remain amazingly focused. She is persistent and concentrates on her goal, whether it is moving with the sunspot for a continuously warm nap, attempting to swipe a piece of chicken from my plate, or just trying to get me to pet her. If she wants something, she shows incredible patience and a willingness to wait and keep on trying. Precious is very focused on her health. She grooms herself daily. She knows how important sleep is and gets a good 16 hours a day. She also checks on me every morning at 3 a.m. to make sure I’m sleeping as well. Precious also knows the importance of physical fitness. She makes sure we get our daily exercise in by chasing me down the hallway. I think that’s also how she practices her hunting abilities, since she’s an indoor cat and doesn’t get a lot of opportunities to actually hunt. She is always prepared — you never know when there will be an invasion of Storm Trooper mice she’ll have to dispatch! Enjoy your pets, maybe spoil them a little through National Pet Week. And, since May 4 is Star Wars Day, if you or your pet are Star Wars fans like me and Precious, “May the Fourth Be With You!”
National Pet Week is May 2–8 this year, so I’d like to share a little about my cat. I’m owned by a 17-year- old tuxedo cat named Precious, whom I adopted when she was just 8 weeks old. She was born in a garage to a feral mom and was the runt of the litter.
Precious enjoys the little things in life: sunspots on the floor, a piece of plastic from a gallon water jug, comfy blankies, food, and a warm lap to rest on. She has no need for a fancy cat bed or lots of toys — but she has them. Precious has a 10-year-old Darth Vader on a string that she still carries around the house. His cape is gone, and he’s a little beat up, but he is her favorite toy.
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