This year seems to be zooming by, and even if you were lucky enough to have a decent amount of time off over the holidays, you may still find yourself stressed out and needing a break. Did you know that the average employee still isn’t taking all of their holidays at work? By choosing not to take your holidays, going into work while you’re run down or sick, and continually being stressed out, you may find that you’re always feeling tired and grumpy, and this can lead to huge health problems down the line.

While many people would like to use their weekends more effectively, we usually get stuck with the same old errands and housework, and before we know it the weekend has disappeared and we need to get ready for work on Monday. The answer? Taking a Friday or Monday off work, so you can have a proper weekend and arrive back at work feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Here are some more reasons why you should take a weekend break:

We all need to sign off

Technology is great, but the problem with being constantly connected is we also find ourselves constantly connected to work. Many people find themselves signing into work emails in the weekend, taking calls from their boss or coworkers, and even checking in with the office when they’re supposed to be on holiday.

In order to truly relax and recharge, you need to completely disconnect from work. That means telling your boss you’ll be away from your laptop and phone, and realising that the world will still turn, and the business won’t go under without you.

Stay in Dorset

You don’t need to go overseas to have all the benefits of a holiday. In fact, by staying in the UK, you can avoid airports, and cut down on the time it takes to get to your holiday destination, and therefore begin relaxing. A great option is to go to Dorset on a cottage holiday, and you’ll find a number of gorgeous, self-catering cottages to choose from- depending on how many people you’re travelling with, and the type of accommodation you would like.

Here, you’ll find incredible scenery, plenty of wildlife, and many different outdoor activities. Whether you want to spend hours strolling outside, or curl up on the couch with a good book, taking a weekend break in Dorset is an excellent way to get all of the benefits of a mini-holiday, without the stress of needing to travel too far.

Get romantic

If you and your significant other are finding that you don’t get enough time to connect, taking a weekend break together and cutting yourselves off from the outside world can help you regain that spark. Go out together and do some shopping, explore an art gallery, or just go for some long walks, and spend some time just talking about everything and nothing, and you’ll find that you’ll soon be feeling far more connected.