I think most of us remember our culture of long working hours. It didn't matter if the time in between was spent walking around the office with a file under one arm. We have experienced that.
Today, with so many people working at hot desks, working from home, or moving from meeting to meeting on the road, there is no time to look "busy". In fact, a recent TUC survey (2019) found that 32 billion pounds of unpaid overtime was worked last year.
With productivity losses due to absenteeism, accidents, and poor performance costing UK businesses £40 billion, it's no wonder stress is such a "big deal". Breaks and vacations are important for dealing with stress, self-sufficiency, and wellbeing. So why do two million workers or one in 14 not take a break?
What other pressure could there be? We all want to do a good job, protect our employees, and see our business succeed. There is also the concern that evaluations and performance appraisals can affect pay and promotions. So you need to be available at all times and make sure that no one else is taking over your role, doing a better job, or discovering mistakes or inefficiencies.
If being away from work is so important, why not take a vacation?
- The fear of failure and perfectionism can make the mere thought of a break or vacation make us feel stressed, anxious, and uncomfortable. Maybe we really do need a vacation but feel ambivalent about the prospect of not being available for a certain period of time.
- When we are constantly busy, we often focus our attention first on dealing with the most urgent problems. And why should we not do that? But gradually the less demanding areas of our lives can fade into the background so that we can trust our family and friends to take care of themselves. But if we are often absent, they begin to feel insignificant and get along fine without us.
- It is interesting to note that the time after the holidays is the second busiest time for divorce lawyers, with the time after Christmas being the busiest. When we lose touch with our relationship, spending a few weeks together can make it clear how alienated we have become. Regular breaks and holidays offer the opportunity to keep communication alive and to improve these relationships so that we don't become too distant.
- Remember that stress comes in many forms. There are 360 different physical stress symptoms, and a new symptom can appear on any day of the year. By recognizing your own warning signs, you can know in advance that it is time to intervene or take a vacation before things escalate and affect your health and well-being.
- One of the signs that you should take a vacation is when your ability to think creatively weakens. You may find that you work hard but are not caring or focused, and you lose the enjoyment of what you are doing.
So let's change the way we look at the holidays
- Decide how you want to spend your one or two weeks and what you want to do during your absence. Whether you are single or a couple, with or without children, it is important to take your wishes into account. When making your decisions, consider both your own needs and the needs of others, and do not be distracted by what you will lose at work.
- Do not use your vacation time for housework. If you are not going away, you may want to decorate your house or organize your garden. It may be beneficial to take time for these things, but it is just as important to find places, hobbies, and interests that you like. Find out what excites or inspires you.
- Make the holidays a time when you can concentrate on yourself and your family. Do fun things together and affirm that you value your relationships. Remember that they are often the reason why you work so hard. Your intention is to live a good life for them and to care for them. Discuss how you can keep your relationship fun and intimate after the holidays. Regular family meals and shared hobbies and interests can help you keep "us" together after the holidays.
- Understand that vacations and vacations can be a space where you can relax and distance yourself from everyday care and stress. Often a break provides time to take your mind off other things and to become calmer after returning refreshed, perhaps even with a new perspective on a topic and a new way of doing things.
- Learn to turn off the adrenaline. We can get used to living on red alert all the time, being overly cautious, and is programmed to react constantly and be alert to everything that is going on. A calmer, more relaxed approach can help you evaluate and decide how to react more realistically and effectively.
Taking breaks and vacations to change your mood is an important way to invest in your ability to live a good life. So make sure that you take a vacation.