Well that was me, and if I did not get away from work I was not going to be a productive nor a nice employee. I was nearing my breaking point.
It was the week of the Fourth of July, and although it fell on a Thursday, I decided to take that Wednesday and Friday off and turn it into a mini get away as well as a time to disconnect. I was long overdue for a visit to NY & NJ to see my family and friends and this was the perfect time to do it.
Getting to NY from DC is pretty convenient. I like to take the bus from DC into the City, mostly because it is affordable for last minute trips, and I can sit back and enjoy the ride. After I arrived in NYC I was able to catch up with my friends over dinner and drinks before heading to Jersey to spend the weekend with family.
It was independence day and I was like a child anxiously awaiting for family and friends that I had not seen in years to arrive to the cookout to celebrate. We spent the entire morning preparing the food and transforming the house into an independence day ready celebration. As soon as the first guest arrived, the party began. The music was bumping, the drinks were flowing, and the food was savory.
The party still continued after the last guest left, we stayed up talking and playing cards, but I did not pull an all nighter because the following day I was headed to Brooklyn with my cousin for another cookout. I was excited to go because I had never been to Brooklyn, only the City, and let’s just say I cannot wait to go back for a visit. I visited a cute restaurant, Seamore’s, for happy hour. I ordered their oysters and a glass of Rose. After I finished I joined my cousin at the cookout. The Views from the balcony of the cookout were absolutely breathtaking. You could see the entire downtown Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge was to my left and the Manhattan Bridge to my right. As the sun began to set, I sat there and drank in the scenery and sounds of the East River and city noise. It was relaxing and I wish I could have sat there the entire night.
This trip was much needed and I am glad I listened to myself and took the time off.
Every year so many Americans do not take the time off that they have earned. In 2018 more than 50% of Americans had unused vacation time that equaled up to about 705 million unused days. I do not understand how people do not take time off of work, that’s crazy. I know so many factors can hinder someone from taking off, the boss opposes, lack of staff, or too much work. I used to feel a little guilty myself about taking a week off, and would reassure everyone that I could be reached on my cell if they needed anything, or I would feel that there was never a ‘perfect time’ to take off. But I had to get out of that mindset and think about my own mental health, and how I could be a better employee. And it is not by accumulating hours and not using them; but by taking those accumulated hours and going on a vacation and disconnecting and returning back to work refreshed and full of new ideas.
How important is taking time off for you? And how often do you take time off?
Takiyah Travels 