Paid time off is a necessity, not a perk. Your sick, personal and Vacation Days are available so you can maintain your health and enhance your productivity in the workplace. Never let the fear of layoffs or other office politics make you feel guilty about using them. An employer who hands you a pink slip for taking your hard-earned vacation time doesn't deserve you.

If you have unused vacation days, remember to take some time off to recharge — it's prime vacation season after all. You don't necessarily have to leave the country, it can be something as simple as taking a yoga retreat or renting a place in another part of town for a week. The point is to relax and enjoy yourself. Did you know overworked employees get sick more often? Several studies show individuals who allowed their vacation days to expire were more likely to die of a heart attack.

Seth Bannon, a social entrepreneur and impact investor, says preventing burnout is an essential part of your job. I bet you won't feel so guilty about taking full advantage of those vacation days once you come to think of them as part of your salary.

"Professional runners take long breaks between marathons. They make no excuses for this, and no one judges them for it, because everyone knows that rest and recuperation is an essential part of being a pro athlete. The same is true for entrepreneurs (and everyone, really). Preventing burnout is a part of your job. Staying well rested is part of your job. Sleep and exercise help, but occasional extended breaks are essential too, and their benefits on creativity, productivity, and happiness are well documented. It's time we stopped making excuses for rest and relaxation. Doing so is not only bad for you, but sends the wrong message to the rest of your team. So next time you're planning a vacation, announce it with pride."

Here are a few quotes on why you shouldn't deprive yourself of rest:


"Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us." — Maya Angelou

"There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither." — Alan Cohen

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well." — Louisa May Alcott

"Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax." — Bryant McGill

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." — Mark Twain

"A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men." — Roald Dahl

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." — Plato

"Rest and be thankful." — Williams Wadsworth

P.S. Study: race and gender plays role in salary negotiations
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