Hesitating to take leave? Do your family, career and self a favour by scheduling a getaway now. By Rebekah Funk.
Don’t be fooled — skipping leave, pulling all-nighters and working long hours are a recipe for disaster, not a promotion, according to medical experts who recommend at least a week off to truly unwind. Anything less can have a negative effect on performance at home or work.
Johannesburg-based Clinical Psychologist, Luani Old, recommends at least 10 to 14 days of holiday to improve one’s mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.
“This gives you enough time to travel, catch up on sleep, and play to your heart's content … reading books, swimming, reconnecting with your partner and family, exploring new places, and allowing yourself to become bored enough to miss work.”
It’s especially true for people who work in high stress or so-called “helping professions”, says Old. Nurses, counsellors and teachers, for instance, may need shorter but more frequent breaks each year to avoid burnout.
So what is burnout exactly?
“Everything starts to feel just too much. When the alarm goes off, you keep pressing snooze just to get in those extra few minutes, or you might even find yourself wishing you could call in sick,” explains Old.
“You notice that you become irritated more easily, perhaps snapping at those close to you [or] you find yourself becoming withdrawn. You put off living just so you can manage functioning at work.”
She says we’ve made being busy a revered status symbol in society, trying to squeeze as much productivity as possible in our days that we end up sleepless emotional and physical wrecks, with migraines, irritable stomach issues or sore backs to show for it.
Even the World Health Organisation says skipping a holiday is a bad idea — and the perceived financial gains of staying home don’t actually match the health risks.
“Work-related stress may lead to varying health problems affecting physiological and psychological health, as well as the worker's cognition and behaviours,” a 2010 report states.
“Sickness absence due to mental health, musculoskeletal or cardiovascular problems may be the result, and eventually work disability or death will be the consequence.”
According to author of Work to Live, Joe Robinson, even “supposedly nonproductive” leisure time can improve our self-esteem, be more productive and reduce loneliness.
The trick is learning to work smarter, not harder: studies show performance increases after any sort of break, from extended vacations to 30-second "micro-breaks".
Annelie Keyter, a registered research psychologist at the Health Professions Council of South Africa agrees, saying its the quality and not the quantity of downtime that counts.
“Several shorter breaks can contribute to a greater number of happy moments whereas a longer break can contribute to a deeper sense of relaxation.”
It’s a fact we’ve long known at Sure Travel — our expert agents do their best to ensure each trip is a fulfilling and relaxing match for travellers, whether that’s a relaxing beach getaway at an affordable 5-star luxury resort in Mauritius or something closer to home.
One of the most difficult parts of beating burnout is the feeling of being overwhelmed on your trip (resist the urge to think or talk work, or answer emails!), or as soon as you get home and unpacked.
Old recommends saving holiday memories on your phone or computer at work to prolong the bliss of your getaway, and to envision your next trip on those grey, wintery days.
“Start planning your next holiday while you are on your current one – or very soon after, before the novelty and memories wear off and you get bogged down with work life responsibilities.”
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Contact your nearest agency to enquire or book, or call +27 (0)861 47 48 49.