Why You Should Take a Break

By Matter

Here at Matter, the office is busy with the sound of final projects being completed before the holiday break. While we remain available for our clients, we take the week after Christmas to recharge and refresh so that we can start the New Year off strong.

And while most people recognize the importance of taking a break, the workforce often doesn’t act upon its own advice. In fact, a recent survey by research firm Harris Interactive revealed that American workers only use 51% of their available vacation time; furthermore, 61% of respondents continue to work when they take a vacation.

It’s something we can all relate to: there’s a lot going on, and it’s difficult to unplug, especially for PR pros. Even so, not taking a break can actually do more harm than good. So if you need an extra reason to take that lunch break or book your next vacation, think about the following two benefits of stepping away from the computer screen.

  1. Less Stress: It’s obvious, but people who regularly indulge in some me-time are less stressed, and who doesn’t want that?
  2. Higher Quality of Work: This seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? But it’s true: the more vacation time one takes, the better one’s quality of work. Ernst & Young proved this in 2006 after a study of its own employees revealed that for every 10 hours of vacation time employees took, their end-of-year performance ratings improved by 8 percent.

Clearly, not only is taking a break good for your own personal well-being, but it’s also beneficial for your work! So for those of you who have a difficult time finding a few minutes to unwind, perhaps you just found your New Year’s resolution: invest some time in yourself. Your body and your employer will thank you.