Signs You Need A Vacation ASAP

You are completely burnt out at the office and, as the clock strikes 7 p.m., you are nowhere near leaving for the night. Before you know what’s happening you’re opening a tab and Googling “cheap vacations.” The signs you’re in need of a vacation are clear. If you’re anything like me, you’ll walk through the steps of searching for a vacation, but won’t actually pull the trigger. Well, I’m here to let you know you should. We all need a vacation from time and time, and sometimes all we have to do is listen to our bodies and other subtle signs around us to get the hint.

No matter what your job is, likely there is at least an element of stress involved in it. As we all know and have experienced, stress tends to grow more and more unless we actively do something to release it. Sometimes, it’s just as simple as taking a little vacation and getting some much-needed time away from the office or some time away from whatever else your daily responsibilities may be. Getting away can help you clear your mind and reset, so to speak. It can also help you to reconnect with loved ones you might have found yourself drifting from recently.

Here are eight signs you’re in need of a vacation. If these seem relatable to you, reopen that tab with your “cheap vacations” search again and make that dream vacation come to fruition.

1. Your Sleep Situation Is All Over The Place

No matter what you do, you can’t seem to get enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep, but this seems totally impractical for you. It might be because your mind is constantly running with worries related to work or family responsibilities. According to POPSUGAR, you might even notice that your bed is now filled with electronics, too, that you just can’t seem to separate yourself from. You might find yourself waking up in the middle on the night, pulling your laptop out from under your covers, and powering that thing on, for example.

2. You’re Making A Lot Of Mistakes At Work

A sure sign you are totally drained is when you start making a lot of mistakes, particularly at work. Paula Davis-Laack, PhD, spoke to Health and noted, “Chronic stress is a well-known cause of workplace errors, and it's a sign that you may need to take a step back,” says Davis-Laack. Studies have confirmed this, according to the outlet, especially when it relates to doctors and pharmacists dealing with a ton of stress and a lot of pressing work (a huge issue when you consider that they’re dealing with life or death). If you notice you’re constantly having mess-ups at work, take this as a sign you need to relax and take some needed time off, according to Davis-Laack.

3. You Haven’t Even Glanced At Your Bucket List In Ages

Oh, the Bucket List. I made mine in college and honestly forgot about it for five years. When I dug it up one day, I realized I hadn’t done one single thing on it. What a freakin’ shame. If you have a great Bucket List, but yours sits in the corner collecting dust while you’re stuck at the office 60 hours a week, it might be time for you to read through it again. The purpose of the list is to do things with your life that you’ve always imagined you’d do, and not to sound like a dork but… YOLO. POPSUGAR noted sometimes we get that vacation fix by looking through a friends’ vacation photos, and this is a problem. You gotta make some real memories of your own.

4. Taking A Short Lunch Break Feels Like A Vacation All It’s Own

I once had a job that was so stressful that every single little moment away from the office felt like I was breaking free. A walk down the street to get coffee felt like a trip to Thailand — I’d be out there on the streets straight-up beaming. Cosmopolitan confirmed if you’re feeling this gigantic sense of relief to be out of the office for something as simple as a quick lunch break, your mind might be telling you it’s time to take some actual time off.

5. You’re So Wound Up, Everything Makes You Jump

According to Women’s Health, those who are in desperate need of a vacation are those who’ve become so wound up that even something like the ping of a new text message will cause them to jump into the high. Take that feeling of being constantly on a clue that you need to chill out a little — perhaps by scheduling the well-deserved time off and getting out of town (or staying in town for a staycation, whatever floats your boat).

6. Your Personal Relationships Are Always On The Back Burner

When we’re inundated with pressure from work, school, or other obligations, it can start to really take a toll on the personal relationships we have in our lives. According to Forbes, if you’ve been noticing a major disconnect between you and your friends and family, you need to stop and take a break. As the outlet put it, some things come and go, but our family and personal relationships are forever. Schedule some vacation time, grab your spouse and children, or your group of closest girlfriends and fly somewhere far away for a few days. (Remember to turn that cell phone off once you get there.)

7. You Constantly Have Aches And Pains

Ouch, ouch, and ouch again. Everything seems to hurt these days — your back, your head, and even your earlobes seem to ache. According to Health, this could be your body’s way of telling you to give it a rest. The outlet cited a 2011 University of South Florida review that showed heavy workloads, among other work-related obstacles, were linked to pain-related health problems in employees. Why? The researchers said when employees found themselves in stressful scenarios, their bodies release chemicals that trigger inflammation. This then increases their sensitivity to pain.

8. You Haven’t Taken A Vacation In Forever

The fact is, most Americans are simply not using their vacation time, so chances are you’ve been skipping out on yours as well. According to TIME, a survey from 2015 showed more than half — 56-percent to be exact — of American adults hadn’t taken a vacation in the previous 12 month period of time. The outlet noted there are financial reasons why people just can’t manage to take a vacation… some don’t have the funds for hotels, flights, and activities. However, remember that there’s always that great option of a staycation if you can’t afford a trip. Turn off your email, grab a great book, and spending some time completely relaxing.

I hope you’ve read this and said, “Damn, I’m planning a vacation ASAP!” because you deserve it. Not only will you be able to enjoy the moments spent away from your regular daily responsibilities, you’ll also be doing your mind and body some serious good.

Images: Pixabay (9)