BLOG

Time Off Can Improve Employee Performance - Here's Why

Everyone needs a break at some point, especially individuals working in high- stress work environments. In fact, research shows that taking a vacation can actually increase your performance at work by up to 80%.

Generally, people in the U.S. are working longer hours and taking less time off. In fact, one study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found about 50% of American workers don't take the vacation days available to them for one reason or another. This can result in the onset of a wide range of physical and mental health problems. Without time off, it's easy to feel burned out, unmotivated, and unproductive.

Taking care of your physical and mental well-being should be a non-negotiable. Here's a look at how time off can improve performance, and how you can overcome scheduling and other challenges to arrange for that much-needed vacation that can make life better for you, your family, and even improve your work performance as well.

Physical Health

If you work in a high-stress environment it's imperative to take care of your physical health in any way possible. Vacation time can help you assess your physical health and start the process of changes you can make to improve it.

For example, with vacation time, you may be able to try a new exercise program or think of other ways you can shift your daily schedule to get more exercise in. Or if it's meditation or other relaxation practices that may improve your physical health, vacation can be a great time to initiate that mind-body connection and start a daily practice.

Prolonged stress can lead to health concerns like high blood pressure and even heart disease. But taking a vacation can decrease your risk for these stress- related diseases.

Mental Health

Chronic stress and overwork can actually alter your brain structure, which can lead to disorders such as anxiety and depression. If you work in a stressful environment, you are even more susceptible to mental health concerns. Regular breaks from work-related situations may help. Finding time on your vacation to rest your mind and get away from your hectic schedule or workplace stressors can actually be a healing practice to support your overall mental well-being.

Motivation

Stress and burnout can also affect your productivity and motivation to perform well. Taking that important mental and physical break from work can help you feel refreshed, more alert, focused, and motivated to do your job well.

You also want stick to stick to a pledge of not working during scheduled time off. One Harvard study found 30% of workers reported working on weekends and on vacation. Use friends, family, and others, if needed, to help remind you to stick to a goal of truly disconnecting from work on vacation, so that you can come back refreshed and motivated.

The Many Impacts of Not Taking Time Off

Consistently working long hours without giving yourself time off can bring long- term negative health effects. It may lead to cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, decreased sleep quality, and other concerns. One study even found a 30% increased risk of heart attack in men and 50% increased risk for women who did not take their vacation. Not taking vacation may also lead to bringing stress home with you, which can also harm your family life and put strain on your relationships.

Commit to Taking a Vacation

For some, it may feel like it's difficult to take a vacation right now. Maybe it's the feeling that it's too hard to find the time, there's a project to finish, or there's always something else preventing you from committing to taking time off. If you don't think you have the time, start small. You don't have to take off a whole week or two for a vacation. Even short weekend breaks or mental health days can make a big difference.

You can also use technology to help make scheduling a vacation easier. If you're worried about having your shifts covered, download the Medshift x-Change® app and connect with others on your team who are able to fill in for you so you can enjoy the vacation time your body and mind need and deserve.

It's happened to all of us. That moment when you wake up and feel like you're going to die...but you still have to go to work. Or maybe a family emergency happens, something you can't control, but you have patients waiting for you to come in and see to THEIR needs. Working in a medical profession makes calling out for any reason much harder because there are people relying on your skills and expertise and it's hard to find a peer who can cover for you in equal measure. But don't worry--that won't be a problem much longer. Medshift x-Change has seen the need and stepped in to fill the gap so you can take the time you need without having to worry about your patients.

The Call-Out Cost

According to the CDC, worker illnesses and injuries cost employers around the U.S. at least $225.8 billion annually. For health workers alone (specifically physicians and nurses), Forbes estimates that the amount comes to approximately $3.3 billion annually. That's a huge number, and it doesn't take into account the distress of patients or other workers who have to deal with the absence of their providers or coworkers. Productivity is significantly decreased any time a worker calls out, and this often results in fatigue for those who have to cover someone else's work in addition to their own. So far, though, there haven't been any real solutions to dealing with callouts, particularly in the medical profession. Thankfully, with the help of Medshift x-Change, that is about to change for good.

The Reasons for Callouts

You work hard in your medical profession. Whether you're a nurse, a receptionist, or a provider, you have people relying on you for help every day. It's not easy to deal with so many patients day in and day out without a break. You can't always account for unexpected emergencies or illnesses that might crop up. And what if you just need a break for your mental health and sanity?

As a medical worker, you know full well that taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. You also know that staying healthy is essential for you to be able to effectively help your patients with their health needs. Sometimes, in order to make it through the day of helping others, you need to take some time to rejuvenate your mental well-being. There's no shame in that. That's why many employers allow time off for their employees. But if that time is something you worked hard to earn, why should you need your employer's permission to use it as it fits their convenience? Why should you have to ask and let them determine what's important for you?

Obviously, the short answer is that you shouldn't. If you need time off, time that you have worked hard for, you should be able to take it. At the same time, though, you don't want to make it too hard on your employer by leaving them in the lurch with no one to cover your duties. That can cause all kinds of problems for your company, your employers, and the people trying to fill in the gaps. Money, time, and resources will all be wasted unnecessarily if your employers can't fill the holes you've left by staying home. That's why you need a quick, easy solution so you can take care of both yourself and your workforce.

The Solution to Callouts

Medshift x-Change provides a low-cost, high-value solution to the problem of unexpected callouts. You don't have to lose money or time when you use this convenient, rapid solution to the problem. All you have to do is download the app and you'll be set for dealing with any unexpected situation that may arise. Here's how it works:

1. The employee decides that they can't make it to work, whether for illness, emergency, or just plain exhaustion.
2. The employee goes into the app and creates a request, filling out relevant details.
3. The employee sets the date and time of the shift.
4. The employee chooses who in their peer circle they want to send the notification to.
5. The employee waits for someone available to pick up their shift. 

6.The administrator approves the shift and everything's ready to go!

Medshift x-Change Features

In addition to the simple, easy process of shift-swapping, Medshift x-Change provides a few other neat features to make everything go as smoothly as possible for you. 

• In-app messaging allows shift workers to discuss any relevant details about the shift to ensure that the person covering it is prepared and effective.
• Peer-to-peer staffing means that you don't have to worry about someone covering you who doesn't know what they're doing. You can choose who you want to cover you in the app and send the request only to those who are qualified. 
• The clean and simple interface reduces hassle, especially if you're already frazzled from the life circumstances that called you out of work in the first place.

The Medshift x-Change app is perfect for everyone. Whether you're needing to drop a shift on a qualified peer so you can enjoy your time away or looking for a little extra money from covering a shift you have the time for, you'll be able to do it all at medshiftxchange.com. Administrators and employers will love the app too, since they'll only get qualified professionals covering the time, money, and resources that would otherwise be wasted.

The Low-Cost High-Value App You Need

If you're looking for help so you can use your time on the days you need it most, you've come to the right place. Don't waste any more of your precious hours stressing out about work or struggling to fulfill your duties when you should be somewhere else. And if you're a manager, there's no need to keep worrying over how to fill holes while still giving your team enough time off. With a few quick movements on your phone screen, you could be free of your shift and ready for anything. If you have any questions or are ready to get started with the simple solution, get in touch with us today