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Every year on August 15th, we celebrate National Relaxation Day—a day dedicated to doing…well, as little as possible. While relaxation might sound like a luxury in a work culture that encourages hustle and stacked schedules, National Relaxation Day is worth taking seriously. Relaxation is what makes productivity possible in the first place, so if you’re serious about your career you’ve got to learn how to strike a balance between work and rest.
The History of National Relaxation Day
Believe it or not, this unofficial but widely recognized holiday wasn’t invented by some wellness brand or HR department. Nope, it was started by a 9-year-old. That’s right, back in 1985 Michigan fourth-grader Sean Moeller proposed the idea of a National Relaxation Day, encouraging people to take a break from their fast-paced routines. It gained traction through local media and eventually captured the nation’s attention. Keep in mind this is all way before the internet became a staple of every day life, which makes it all the more impressive.
Why National Relaxation Day is Relevant
Whether you’re a student, a job seeker, or a professional, you know how busy life can get. You’re building your career, chasing promotions, networking, applying for jobs, going on interviews—it never ends! It can be easy to forget to take some time for yourself and get into some hobbies you enjoy, visit friends and family, or just sit in a nice chair and reflect.
The truth is, burnout doesn’t care how impressive your resume is or how many hours you’ve sunk into researching market trends or learning programming languages. Some of the most career-driven professionals are the ones most at risk of stress-related exhaustion. Long hours, poor sleep, and zero downtime can and will take a toll on your decision-making skills, creativity, and capacity for rational thought.
What Relaxation Actually Means
Relaxation isn’t just lying on the couch doomscrolling through your phone until you forget what day it is. True relaxation involves mentally stepping away from work-mode, even if just briefly, to give your body and mind a rest. Let’s get into what relaxation is, and what it isn’t.
Relaxing can take many forms, such as a walk without your phone, listening to music, or reading. For some, journaling or meditation are great ways to relax. Simple breathing exercises can also bring calmness after a busy day, or perhaps you just want to sit still and let your imagination take over.
On the other hand, ignoring your responsibilities is not relaxing. By doing this, you’ll only put yourself into a state of anxiety over the important things you’re not doing. You should never feel guilty about resting and relaxing, and the best way to avoid this is by making sure you’ve earned it. Tie up the day’s loose ends and make progress on larger projects—you’ll feel accomplished and when it does come time to chill out, you won’t have any nagging thoughts in the back of your mind.
The Career Benefits of Relaxing
Yes, really. Your career will actually benefit from some nice relaxation. For starters, you’ll think more clearly. A tired brain isn’t great at problem solving or innovative thought, so short breaks and structured downtime will help you process more deeply and make smarter decisions.
Rest can also help improve your emotional intelligence, which is crucial in the professional world. Rested professionals tend to be better listeners, more empathetic coworkers, and more effective managers. Relaxation strengthens your ability to respond rather than react. Along with this, you’ll avoid the dreaded burnout. Burnout can derail your performance, reputation, and even your long-term career trajectory.
For job seekers, rest is crucial. Candidates who are well-rested tend to be sharper, more articulate, and more confident in high-stakes settings, such as job interviews. Imagine being totally exhausted and having to explain your work history to a hiring manager—that doesn’t sound fun.
Relaxation Strategies for Professionals
Of course, you can’t just go and take every single day off from work, but you can build relaxation into your day if you’re clever about it. For starters, you can block out time for deep thinking or just to get some peace and quiet. Along with this, don’t mindlessly take on each and every task that’s given to you. Learn to prioritize and protect your time from unnecessary meetings and obligations.
Saying “no” to things that are asked of you can be tricky. You’ve got to be cognizant of what’s important, what’s relevant to your role, and what you’ve got on your plate, and you can’t simply say no to everything. For more on how to say no at work the right way, check out our previous advice here.
What Relaxation Signals to Employers
How you handle rest can impact how others view you professionally (yes, seriously). Professionals who know when to pause tend to be more composed, thoughtful, and emotionally resilient. They’re not constantly reacting or spiraling when challenges present themselves. Well-rested people think before they act and that calm, focused energy demonstrates confidence and trustworthiness.
We often talk about various skills such as communication, problem solving, and adaptability, but relaxation is also a key skill all professionals should know. It takes awareness, intention, and sometimes even courage to step away from the grind. So, this August 15th take some time to rest your mind and body—your future self will thank you.
Rob Porter is an editor at Vault.
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