Q: How can vacations help those in the working world recharge?
A: Vacations are times of restoration for employees, a break in their regular work and home routine. In a sense, vacations can offer a geographic cure for the small ups and downs and stresses we deal with day in and day out. Because most of us have become so "routinized" in our daily shuttles to and from work, a vacation can help restore some sense of balance. When you distance yourself from the work routine for a while, it gives you a break from the day-to-day grind that everyone feels over the course of the year.

Q: Are short vacations just as beneficial as long ones?
A: Yes, any time away from work can be a very pleasant respite. Even a mental health day ? a day off from work just to do something for yourself ? can be very refreshing and restorative in terms of energy and creativity. So, whether it?s one day off or several, a brief break from work can do wonders and make employees that much more ready to tackle the job at hand when they return. To some extent the question of whether it is better to use up all your vacation days at one time or break the time up into smaller time frames is a matter of individual personality. Some individuals may want to go through the year and just take a day here and there. Others won?t feel as if they?ve truly been on vacation unless they take a week or two off at a time. It?s very individual as to what best restores a person?s sense of energy and balance. You should do what?s best for you.

Q: Is it best to leave all work at the office when vacationing?
A: The healthiest employee is one who when away from work can truly be away from work. Individuals should minimize the intrusion of work into their lives away from work as much as possible ? both during home hours as well as vacation.

Q: What if you?re a manager and have a great deal of responsibility? Wouldn?t it be better to call in periodically so that you?re not overwhelmed when you return?
A: As your responsibilities grow, things do change. Many employees will want to know what they?re walking into as they are returning from vacation and, therefore, need to take control of their reentry. For these kind of personalities, calling the office to touch base close to the time you?re due to return can be very helpful. But you should be cautioned that getting a head?s up on office events could also compromise the last days of your vacation. Other people who feel totally overwhelmed and overburdened by multiple work demands might prefer to forget about work while they?re away and deal with things once they return.

Q: Some employees are workaholics. Even if they don?t want to go on vacation, should they?
A: Absolutely, in fact, moreso than those who have more balanced lives. Workaholics should not only use all their vacation days but look forward to them. Some employees are unhealthily attached to their jobs and don?t set limits with their time and energies because they?re pouring everything into the workplace. Therefore, they must work hard at disciplining themselves when they?re away. Barring any emergencies that might arise in the workplace during their absence, the workaholic should refrain from calling or coming in to check up on things.

Q: What if an employee refuses to take vacation days? Should the manager encourage him to do so?
A: Yes, the supervisor should recommend that he take vacation. If those in management want healthy, balanced and productive employees, the onus is really on them to encourage their staff to take a break from work. If an employee feels renewed, refreshed and restored after a vacation, it can only benefit the office.

Q: Is it better to constantly be on the move during vacation or to relax?
A: Again, this is very individual issue, and the employee should do whatever he finds exciting and relaxing. Some individuals who have high adrenalin and who work in stressful jobs would probably go bonkers if they took a beach vacation where all they?re doing is watching the waves and reading books. They would find this type of vacation too narcoleptic. For these personality types, a vacation involving a higher degree of activity like skiing, boating or biking would be more appealing. For others a beach vacation might be just what the doctor ordered. They truly enjoy the quiet down time, with no demands and no place that they have to be.

Q: Vacations can be stressful in and of themselves. How can you reduce the stress?
A: If you have extensive vacation plans and are traveling with children and a spouse, the best thing to do is to pre-plan as much as possible and prepare for every contingency that could arise. Vacations can be very stressful times for most families, because they represent a break from their regular routines. The seeds that make vacations healthy and helpful are the same seeds that can make them stressful and exhausting. Sometimes after we return, we feel as if we need a vacation from the vacation. The good news is that usually about half way through one?s vacation, people start to relax into the rhythm of their time off and do find it restoring for themselves and family members. Others who choose to spend their vacation time camping out in their own backyards can eliminate a great deal of stress. Not only do they feel totally relaxed and comfortable in their own homes, they eliminate all the stresses associated with planning a vacation.

Q: Traveling with another family can increase stress no matter how compatible the two of you are. Should you avoid doing so?
A: Certainly, the logistics of traveling with just your family reduces stress levels. You don?t have to match schedules, try to squeeze two families into one car, and meet up at certain times and places. However, if it?s a family you?re close to and share a lot of time with anyway, traveling together can be very enjoyable and relaxing. Although there are added logistical stresses whenever more people are involved, vacationing with a family with whom you and your children are comfortable, can be a terrific experience.

Q: Most of us are given a set amount of vacation days per year. If you feel you need more, should you buy them from your employer?
A: For most employees, purchasing additional vacation days is not an option. Those who do have this choice and feel that they greatly benefit from time off, should certainly buy more days if they?re financially able to do so and if the workplace can accommodate their absence. Our country is very behind the times in recognizing the need for recreation, which is where the word vacation comes from ? the need to "recreate" ourselves. We are not as far ahead as other industrialized countries, for example, Sweden and some of the Netherlands countries, in terms of our attitude toward vacation and leave time in general. This is something that needs to change. If an organization does not allow employees to purchase extra vacation days, the employee should attempt to negotiate an arrangement with his manager for additional time off. He could offer to take one week off without pay, for example, thereby giving him extra time for vacation. Of course, this depends on the demands of the workplace and the authority the manager has been granted.