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Five Reasons Why Americans Should Use PTO This Summer

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Five Reasons Why Americans Should Use PTO This Summer

VirtualPBX 5

Welcome to Edition 15.0 of The VirtualPBX 5 where we share our favorite topics, gadgets, and apps!

Americans Should Use PTO This SummerIt’s that time of year again, it’s PTO season. But why aren’t we using it? According to a survey conducted by Glassdoor, 54% of Americans only use half of their vacation days. Which begs the question: why are we leaving so much PTO on the table?

Is it because Americans love working? Or maybe we feel we will be penalized for taking personal time off? Whatever a person’s reason for not using his or her earned PTO is that person’s business. We won’t tell you what to do, but we can tell you why taking a break from the grind is good for you.

Here are the Top Five Reasons why Americans Should use PTO This Summer:

1. Stimulate Eustress by Traveling the World

Flying to an exotic destination stimulates good stress, also known as eustress. It is when your body feels the psychological, biochemical, or physical implications of stress. Traveling to a new country heightens this type of stress due to the unfamiliarity of the local customs and language – forcing you to be more cognizant of your surroundings and more culturally aware. In addition to expanding your cultural horizons, eustress aids personal growth and creativity.

2. Reboot your Mental and Physical Health

Daily stressors are a normal part of work life. Counteracting those stressors is an essential part of human health. If you feel your mental and physical health are rapidly declining due to an overbearing workload, it’s time to put in a PTO request. Our bodies are like computers. When we have dozens of programs open, and we neglect to reboot the computer, it becomes slower and eventually crashes. When you proactively take time to recharge, you can avoid a crash altogether.

3. Boost the Economy by Shopping Small

We’d never advocate overspending, but it’s okay to indulge in some quality experiences every now and then. In fact, studies show that vacation days are great for the economy. According to Forbes, if Americans took off one additional day of PTO each year that would result in a $73 billion dollar boost in the U.S. economy. I mean, if taking a vacation wasn’t already a good enough idea, then you should at least consider doing it for your country!

4. Foster Relationships with Family and Friends

We’ve become a society so focused on career advancement, that we’ve reduced the amount of quality time spent with our loved ones. Fostering healthy relationships with our friends and family is a key aspect of our personal happiness. Disconnecting from the workplace is an essential part of growing tighter bonds and striking a better work-life balance.

5. Increase Quality of Life

The negative toll of stress compounds over time causing our quality of life to suffer. Our happiness is shaped by our ability to have control over our daily stressors such as finances, traffic, health, etc. Due to the subjective nature of quality of life, it’s important to take personal time to discover what factors make us most happy. Taking a hiatus in the summer months allows us to discover ourselves and pursue the quality of life we desire.

The Show Must Go On (Even When You’re on PTO)

If you need help crafting an out of the office greeting for your clients while you’re away on PTO, look no further than our Custom Greeting options. While you’re at it, you can set Holiday Hours, Do-Not-Disturb, or even re-route your calls to another department while you’re out having some fun in the sun this summer.

Lastly, I hope everyone takes a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember the heroes that gave their lives for our country. Without their sacrifice, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the safety and freedom that we have today. Stay safe wherever you find yourself this weekend, and have a wonderful time with your loved ones.

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