Sometimes the stress of work can creep up on you. You’re pushing through every day, getting things done, when all the sudden it all starts to feel overwhelming. Every decision is difficult. Challenges seem to be missing solutions. Your co-workers are on your last nerve.

This is when it’s time to take a break. A vacation from work and the problems that come with it.

The holidays are a good time to do it because you can often combine a company holiday with a few extra days of your own to make for a nice getaway. It’s really essential you recharge your batteries from time to time.

And don’t feel guilty about it, because it’s likely to make you sharper and more productive when you return. With your head cleared, those difficult decisions and challenges will begin to seem much more manageable. Maybe you will realize they weren’t such a big deal to begin with.

Whether you’re a manager or a member of the staff working for someone, you’re going to be easier to deal with, and you’ll find you can tolerate the quirks of your colleagues a little better. You may even miss some of them. Well…you can at least tell what a nice vacation you had.