Make the most of holiday time
Ifeel as though this is my annual lament, but 2017 really does seem to have flown by. Hopefully most of us will be lucky enough to have at least a few days away from our workplace this summer.
I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that Santa can organise a full week off for me, somewhere peaceful and sunny, with relaxation and quality family time on the agenda.
Sadly though, research shows not all of us take the holiday time we are owed – in the UK and US, large proportions of the workforce regularly don’t use all their annual leave. And, for those who do take time off, many will end up working anyway – checking phones and emails and finishing off tasks hanging over from the end of a busy year.
I am sure it is obvious, but the benefits of time off are undeniable. And by this, I mean REAL time off – no phones or work emails, no worrying about projects that haven’t been finished or what’s going to happen when you return. It should be time off where you can fully invest in and appreciate being away from work: being with your family or friends in a meaningful way, or being alone enjoying whatever it is that makes you feel happy.
If you can make this happen, you will reap the rewards. There are health benefits, as well as huge repercussions for your relationships and wellbeing.
People who carry around work stress (even during their ‘‘holiday’’ time) are at higher risk of a whole realm of medical issues: heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression. People who struggle to leave work behind find it hard to really engage at home – I know that on days where things have been particularly stressful for me, unless I ‘‘transition’’ properly and mindfully between the work place and walking in the door at home, I am not really able to give 100 per cent of my attention, thought or care to the kids.
Not all of us will be able to head away somewhere over the coming weeks. But I do hope that everyone can at least get some time to feel as though they are on holiday – even if it’s just in a local park or their own backyard. If and when you do, here are a few thoughts as to how to make the most of it:
Enjoy the sun
We have been lucky so far with the weather, and by all accounts we should be in for a wonderful summer. Sunshine lifts our mood, as well as providing us with valuable vitamin D. Getting out and enjoying it when you can is an easy way to unwind and feel ‘‘summery’’. For our family this will include picnicking in the garden on warm evenings, or walking to our local beach to splash around the shallows.
Switch off your devices
Enough said. Time away from anything electronic is time you can engage in the real world. I’m certainly not expecting that my family will be ‘‘gadget free’’ for the entire summer, but placing limits and expectations around this (for you as well as your children) has to be a good thing.
If you have to think about work or even dedicate some time to it, try to be really conscious of compartmentalising it. Set aside a small amount of time during the day to dedicate to work, then leave it behind and do your best to forget about it.
Make time to do things you love
Think about the things that make you happy, and incorporate them into most days over the break if you can. They don’t have to be ‘‘high end’’ – for me a walk in the bush, or some time pottering around the garden is bliss. And if long car journeys or large family events aren’t your thing, tactfully find a way to say no. Your time off is precious.
Embrace the break. Work will wait, and if you go back to it feeling rested, happy and relaxed, even the most stressful of jobs can be so much more manageable.
❚ Dr Cathy Stephenson is a GP and forensic medical examiner.