Stressed Desserts: “I Need A Vacation From My Holiday”

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Merriam-Webster defines holidays as,

…a period of exemption or relief.

Wikipedia defines both holidays and vacations as,

A general leave of absence or vacation from a regular occupation for rest or recreation.

So why aren’t they? Holidays, overall – definitely aren’t what they used to be. These days, most of us don’t really have a true holiday, as we might’ve been so fortunate to experience when we were kids. As we’ve all got one foot now solidly in the “grown-up” world, we split our time-off being equally busy (if not more) at personal holiday tasks (shopping, cooking, ‘making merry’) rather than being occupied 9-to-5 (during business hours – for those of us that are lucky to work the daily minimum) doing business things at work. In essence, the only true difference is the qualifier – we’re still as busy as we are (if not more), we’re just choosing to trim the tree and attend friends’ gatherings instead of collate copies and produce power point presentations. While most don’t take the time to reflect on these differences, a remarkable and impactful fact remains: holiday stress has more of a negative effect and result on our health and well-being than regular day-to-day stressors combined (…for most of us; I can’t comment on those that build skyscrapers without nets, or lion tamers.) I know that we all know how crazy the holidays get, but have you thought about the differences that you personally experience during your own holiday time? Why do we let our holiday be taken over so that it becomes nothing more than a change of tasks, with no real break?

Merriam-Webster defines vacations as,

…a respite or a time of respite from something : intermission; a scheduled period during which activity is suspended; a period of exemption …spent away from home or business in travel or recreation <had a restful vacation at the beach>; an act or an instance of vacating.

Now that’s what I’m talking about! Reflect on this stark difference next time you’re planning a break from your regular routine, whatever time of year. Remember, it’s about recharging yourself so that you can give back to those you love, (…that includes you!)