When there is all work and no play, you can stress and burn yourself out. Taking a break from work allows you to rejuvenate. When you are burned-out and or stressed out, it becomes hard to focus on what needs to be done, to make sound decisions, you become stressed, emotional, and the list can go on. To protect your sanity, you must know when enough is enough. It’s OK to say no to things that you may not want to do or don’t have time for, and it’s OK to take a break and go on vacation.

Taking a break releases stress and allows you to regather your thoughts. When you head back to work, you might be more competent at your job, according to Health.com. In the article “5 Reasons to Plan Your Vacation Right Now, “Health mentioned that stress could have an impact on decisions making, therefore, after taking a few days off with no stress, you will be able to make more thoughtful decisions at work. I find this to be very true. I have taken several breaks away from work. I was able to go back with a clear mind and think differently.

Sometimes it becomes hard to take a break from work, especially when you are always on the go, making decisions and staying two steps ahead of the game, traveling networking, and the list. When you are in a leadership role, sometimes it’s even harder to step away from these things. However, you must think of your physical and mental Health to make sure you live a healthy lifestyle instead of just winging it. You always want to bring your best self to set a positive tone and develop great productivity; you can’t do this without taking care of yourself.

Remember, it’s OK! Go ahead and take a vacation away from work. If you don’t have anywhere, in particular, you would like to go, or maybe you can’t afford to go anywhere now, plan a stay-cation and enjoy what your town or neighboring cities have to offer. There are several free things to take part in far as festivals, museums, shows, and various events that may be open to the public. Don’t forget the one thing that will be free is relaxation at home doing something you have wanted to do: read a new book, binge-watch your favorite Netflix shows or cook that dinner you have been meaning to cook. We all have different things that relax us; just know when it’s time to relax and know it’s OK.