Take a break

Have you got time for some fall break holidays?

Are you skipping vacation? (again!?!)

Although we are taking less vacation than our normal 2-week time away we will still have some holidays, but more like 5-6 days this fall due to COVID and poor weather prognoses.  How about you?

The temptation is to keep on working

Many of us are tempted to skip our vacation, or, at least check out work emails daily while away.  After all, nobody wants 1,000+ emails to go back to work to.  

But psychologist have found it vital for our health and well-being if we can completely shut down for a while, even if it’s a 48-hour break from emails, and a change of pace and scenery.  

IT’S NOW OCTOBER.  Have you planned your FALL vacation?  Taken it already? Decided to skip it and save money?  

A quote below shows the importance, or lack thereof, of vacations in different countries:

“The online travel agency Expedia conducted a survey about vacation time in 2010, and according to their data the average American earned 18 vacation days—but only used 14 of them. Every European country included in the survey reported both more vacation days earned and used. France topped the list, with the average worker earning 37 vacation days and using all but two of them. And according to Expedia's data, only 38 percent of Americans said they used all of their vacation time, compared to 63 percent of French respondents.” http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/08/17/the-benefits-of-taking-time-off

Your physical and mental health depend on R&R

Studies have shown that we need to take time away from the daily schedule of work for our long-term health, whatever that place activity and might be.  It is the “other,” the change, that causes restoration and growth.  For example, new places make new mental neuron synapses grow and rest the overused “pathways” of much used tracks of thinking in our brains. New activities do the same, maybe even in a stronger way.

Not only that, but stress levels are reduced when you are away from it all and therefore, productivity increases with a break in work.  

Employers should be sending their team members away more often just for better productivity—and for better creativity.  The employees return to work relaxed, more creative, and healthier and ready for more work challenges to be overcome.

Your need to relax or you might find it difficult to do so later on and risk burning out

It has been shown that, depending on your actual stress level at any point in time, it will take more or less time to unwind and really relax.  If you go for too long without a real break, it becomes increasingly more difficult to wind down.  Eventually, you will be unable to “remember how to relax”, and may be in danger of burnout.  Therefore, even long weekends with no emails are recommended to keep you “in practice” with your R&R.

Your family matters, and spending time with family builds the relationship

Finally, it is important to remember that the reason you are working is (or should be) less important than your relationship with your loved ones.  So, take the time off to build your relationships with them, doing things you all feel are enjoyable and relaxing.  For my family the place and activity is probably going to be rock hunting in the Ticino when the weather is nice and gaming if the weather is bad; for another family or couple it would be another place and pastime.  But it is the time well-spent together in the end that really matters, because those are our key relationships and relationships need care.

Just do it.

So, take that time off; and when you are away from work, limit the amount of time on work-related activities such as emails; do things with those people you love; and mostly, have fun and relax!  There is only one Fall Break this year, after all.  

Enjoy!

Patricia Jehle

Note:  I am taking a week off my blog, as I will be on holiday and then have a fullp full week the week after that.. See you in a few weeks! You can still reach me via email at patricia@jehle-coaching.com , but I will only be checking my mailbox 2-3 times per week.  Enjoy your fall break!