This is how my dad and I spent quality time together over the holidays. While it may look awkward to you, it’s special to me. Living on opposite sides of the country as your family has its disadvantages and a lack of awkward quality time is one. Mixte’s holiday break resolved this need for me. While most companies get a very short holiday break (and if you want more time off you can use your hard-earned vacation time), Mixte decided to do things differently. Surprise.

Our team worked diligently through December 24 and then took Christmas through January 5 as company holiday time. That’s almost two weeks. That’s the longest I haven’t thought about work in a long time. That’s the longest I’ve had a vacation setting on my email in maybe, ever.

In the big picture, it’s really not a long time. Except at Mixte we live and breathe our clients so to check out, sign off and shut down for this long almost felt wrong.

But it isn’t wrong. In fact, it’s very right — and necessary. Time away from work has been proven to boost workplace morale, motivation, efficiency and numerous other qualities businesses demand of their employees to cultivate “success”, no matter how you define it.

It’s like taking recess away from children so they can spend more time in the classroom. Both are important. Are children really going to learn and be efficient students if they don’t feel happy?

I feel tremendously grateful for this time off – grateful enough to write about how much it means to me. I flew back to Baltimore, spent quality time with my family and friends I only see a few times a year. Without knowing I needed it, I came back to work on January 5 fully focused and eager to kick 2015 off right. I’m determined to make it the best year yet for every single one of our clients and Mixte. Would I have been this refreshed had I worked throughout the holidays?

I’m going to guess not.

Alas readers, my point is this: If you can find a work environment that understands the importance of time away from the office and how it improves your personal wellbeing, don’t let it go. And if you don’t have that in your job, make time away a priority for yourself. Use your vacation days. Give yourself a break. For us busy bees it can seem counterintuitive, but we’re the ones who need it most. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later when you’re refreshed and happy and laughing at all the awkward pictures you took while you were not thinking about work for once. And if you want to thank me, that’s cool too.