This past weekend I was able to spend time with family and friends on a lake in East Tennessee.

I went out on the boat with my Dad and siblings, did some waterskiing, and swam in the lake. My Mom made some amazing lasagna with brown rice noodles, eggplant, grass-fed beef and goat cheese.

It was a great vacation! And I couldn’t help thinking that I need to take more of these.

Are you the same way? Do you take enough time out for yourself? For relaxing and unwinding?

The average American gets 13 vacation days from work while most Europeans get 39!

Resting and taking time off is essential for your quality of life AND your health.

Here are 5 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life

1. Take one day completely off each week. The word Sabbath used in the Bible means to be refreshed. Are your weekends filled with running errands and carpooling the kids to parties? Try spending an entire day doing something that refreshes you instead. Maybe that’s a walk in the park or watching your favorite movie as a family.
2. Schedule a date night once a week with your spouse or significant other.
3. Have lunch or do something fun with your best friend or a group of friends once a week.
4. Schedule a mini retreat for yourself every 2-3 months. This might be a relaxing vacation or a long weekend by yourself with no interruptions.
5. Do something nice for someone else. Think about a person in your life who needs some encouragement or support. Buy them a book, write them a nice email or find some way to add value to their life.

What are your favorite ways to take time out?