This is the time of year when most of us decide we need a break. A rest from our normal routine and a chance to spend valuable time relaxing with family and friends.
Stopping work from time to time is an essential part of life and yet many people leave their vacation time unused, carrying holidays over to the next year. But whether you plan a vacation, or a staycation, it is important to take a break from your job, your routine, and the demands of life in order to keep stress levels in check. Everyone needs regardless of the job they do should take time to recharge.
When you take a break, you are not shirking responsibility. You are taking care of yourself, so you’ll have the stamina to be your best for the rest of the year. By learning the signs that you need a break, you’ll know when to schedule some time away to help you feel refreshed and restored. Noone is meant to be superhuman and it is nothing new to understand the necessity of holidays.
In Exodus 20, God said,
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord, your God. On it you shall not do any work…”
Exodus 20
This Sabbath formula is really very simple: Work six, rest one.
Sabbath means “day of rest.” God says every seventh day, we are to take time off. In Mark 2:27, Jesus said the Sabbath was made to benefit people. It is important to note that Sabbath-keeping is for our own good. The purpose of Sabbath is to preserve health and to prevent burnout and keep the day Holy.
Science supports keeping the Sabbath (day or rest) and taking a break as through rest you break out of the cycle of chronic stress, you can restore yourself physically and mentally to a healthier place. Also, you think clearer as in hindsight many of us realise that a stress response can lead to decreased creativity, memory problems, and unpleasant relationships with colleagues at work.
So, a break in the stress cycle can lead to sharper thinking and increased creativity in all areas of your life. All of this can make you better at your job, better in your relationships, more energetic with your family, and more able to enjoy life after you return.
With such arguments in support of downtime, who could argue that they have no time to take time off work. You owe it to yourself to take a holiday.
May you enjoy your break with family and friends this summer and return to the normal routine of life relaxed and refreshed.