You can't work all the time. Even with regular stress relief and stress management techniques a vacation is good for you as it gets you away from everything and allows you to replenish your energy and creativity.

Be sure to plan a proper vacation and not take on a plan that will end up making you even more stressed. Make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of any vacation plan you are thinking of and be sure that you have activities planed on your vacation that you will enjoy.

Be a better worker -- take a vacation 

You'd love to be camping with the kids this week, but with that project deadline looming, taking vacation days seems unrealistic -- after all, you can't afford a holiday if you don't have a job to come back to.

Unfortunately, vacations have fallen to the bottom of the priority list for many workers. In December, staffing firm Right Management asked 501 employees from across North America if they'd used all of their vacation time that year. A whopping 67 per cent had not.

Other studies in recent years confirm that Canadians are prioritizing work over play. Forbes magazine recently ranked Canada the fourth hardest-working country in the world. According to Expedia's latest vacation deprivation survey, 24 per cent of employed Canadians did not take all of their vacation days in 2009 and, of those surveyed, 42 per cent of respondents reported feeling vacation deprived, up from 33 per cent in 2008.

While you may feel insecure about your job security, or perhaps just too overwhelmed by your workload, experts agree that vacation time is absolutely critical to your long-term health and happiness.

"There are actually some medical studies showing that people who don't take vacations every year increase their risk of death and heart disease," explains Edmonton psychologist Nancy Hurst.

Taking regular vacations is also important for avoiding burnout. "It's a chance to recharge your batteries, get some rest physically and mentally," Hurst says. "It's also good for strengthening relationships."