One area expert is recommending taking a vacation as a vital part to a professional’s well-being.

Rebecca Lobina with the Northwest Missouri State University Small Business and Technology Developmental Center said if you can take time off, do it to give yourself a break.

“Your mental health will thank you for it. In the long run so will your boss at work, because it will make you more productive and mentally more clear. You’ll make better decisions and you’ll be more focused, ” Lobina said.

Lobina said there a number of reasons people do not go on vacation.

“Employees want to show greater dedication. Another one is a common fear that there will be a mountain of work whenever we return. There is the fear of being seen as replaceable, ” Lobina said. “The opposite of that is the belief you cannot be replaced. Some cannot afford to take a vacation.”

Lobina said vacations do not have to be grand to be effective.

“A vacation doesn’t mean you have to go to the Bahamas. Even if you take a vacation at home, take a day off to truly relax. Let go as if you were in the Bahamas. Don’t do housework. Don’t do stuff like that,” Lobina said. “Just let yourself truly relax for a few days. It will help a ton in your mental clarity.”

Lobina said there are best practices employers need to keep in mind with regard to vacations.

“It’s very important that you have a vacation policy. That your employees have to ask you however long in advance you need for your scheduling. Whether that’s a week or two weeks, whatever, ” said Lobina. “You don’t want to leave your customers hanging because you’ve scheduled too many people off.”