Ah, Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer and a day off from work before pumpkin spice invades every food and drink offering throughout the country for the next three months.
And we do mean every food and drink offering. There’s even pumpkin spice dog biscuits now. Don’t ask why.
But Labor Day mean so much more than a day off.
A Halfway Point between Major Holidays
Historians credit September 5, 1882, as the first official Labor Day observed in the United States. Worker unions in New York had been seeking shorter workweeks for the men and women laboring in the city’s shops and factories, many averaging 60 hours a week. They pushed for the idea of a paid day off in September because of the month happened to be the halfway point between the holidays of Independence Day and Thanksgiving.
Other cities followed New York’s example and started observing the September day off. Then in 1887, the state of Oregon made a law officially recognizing a Labor Day holiday, and Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.
And because of the choice of September, Labor Day has become a calendar point where people enjoy the last days of summer before gearing up the overload of social activities that come with the fall. It’s a transitional part of the year where people can enjoy summer activities like barbecuing and visiting the beach while also engaging in traditional fall activities like getting back into school or the start of football season.
Why It’s Important
Firstly, any paid days off from work will always be welcomed. Secondly, our understanding about the importance of time off from work to our physical and mental health has changed significantly in the last few years, allowing Labor Day to become a kind of model for how work can be done in the future.
Prior to 2020, the idea of working from home was a concept rarely used or discussed outside of specific job fields like phone soliciting or billing. Now, society has evolved to include the concept on a more far-reaching basis, with many companies allowing employees to perform their work duties from home.
That’s important because the change allows people the option of working in a potentially less stressful environment without having to fight traffic to reach a central work location, both factors contributing to the overall health and wellness of the participants.
And that was the original point of the idea back when 19th-century New Yorkers started observing Labor Day: work requires workers to function, and workers require the securities of health and safety to work. By taking care of the workers, everybody thrives.
What You Can Do
First of all, take the time to rest and relax on Labor Day. When the holiday ends, make a regular habit of taking time off from work to rest and look after your health.
The principles of self-care do not end with enjoying federal holidays. If you’ve got vacation time save up, make use of it, even in small ways. It’s great to take week-long trips out of town, but taking a random Friday off to do nothing can be even more beneficial.
Remember to not be afraid of rest. Everybody needs it, especially those that work hard.