HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · AUGUST 2017
4
REASONS
WHY YOUR
BODY NEEDS
A VACATION
Y
ou know the feeling. You’re
burned out, fed up, can barely
keep your eyes open, and are
bargaining with anyone who will
listen to set you free. That’s your
body telling you it’s time to take a much-
needed vacation. We’ve all been there. We
all recognize the signs…eventually. If you’re
like most people, those signs don’t become
recognizable until we’ve almost hit our
breaking point or have already exceeded
your limit of the amount of patience your
body can hold.
It’s time to pay attention and do something
about it before you reach the point of no
return, but how? The answer is simple, but
getting to the point that makes you feel
comfortable about getting to that answer is
a whole other story.
We live to work and work to live. That’s a
common theme for working adults. We
are so anxious trying to make gains in the
workplace. We live in turbulent times,
where employers are growing impatient, the
markets are fluctuating, business doors are
shuttering, and no one, including you, wants
to ruin a good thing. But is working yourself
to death really a good thing? Are you working
at optimum levels if you’re dog tired and in
dire need of a long nap?
Walking away from our desks just might
be the scariest thing we’ll ever have to do,
believe me, do it and you will keep your
sanity. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Killing yourself for a job—any job---is not
worth it. Your body needs time to recharge,
to rest, and to just do nothing every once in
a while.
Vacation shaming has become a new ‘thing’
for working people. Everyone bemoans the
guy or gal who takes a mental health day or
goes away on elaborate weeklong trips. The
truth is we all wish we had the coura ge and
the common sense to do that too. There’s
no shame in wanting to take some time to
yourself.
If your body is screaming at you to sit down
or shut down, the best possible thing you
could do for it is to listen. Take a break
from the constant stress of work. Leave
behind the devices that keep you constantly
connected to drama in and out of the
workplace. And find somewhere—home,
a Caribbean cruise, a train ride across
Europe—to get out of your head, shed the
work nonsense, and finally enjoy your life.
What are the signs we should pay attention
to?
01 INSOMNIA
02 CONSTANT
STOMACH UPSET.
Real, cannot sleep insomnia. Your
brain is constantly on. If you notice
your sleep patterns have changed or
are altogether nonexistent, take that as a sign.
Remember when you used to tell
your parents that your stomach
hurt before you had to go to school? Well,
this is the grown up version. If it’s making you
sick to go to work, take a break.
03
04
HEADACHES.
Yes, increased headaches are a BIG
warning sign that you need to take
a break.
YOUR IMMUNE
SYSTEM IS SHOT.
If you’re getting sick more often,
that could be a sign that you need
to take a few days off to rejuvenate your
body.
Pay attention to what your body is telling
you. It won’t steer you wrong.
By Claudia Portillo
33 HEALTHY MAGAZINE