With holiday season well and truly upon us and the sun shining pretty much everywhere, it’s a great opportunity to remind ourselves why it’s important to take a proper break from work and have some time off.
We all have busy lives both in and outside of work so it’s easy to just keep going and going once you are in that rhythm. However, research shows that there are benefits of taking time away from the laptop, phone and any other devices that connect you to work.
Here’s just a few of the benefits of having time away from work:
- Decreases stress and the potential of reaching burnout
- Boosts creativity
- Improves mental health
- Provides an opportunity to reconnect with friends and family
Enjoying time away from work doesn’t have to mean you travel away on holiday, it’s also about giving yourself a break from all things work related. So, wherever you choose to spend your time, here’s three simple activities that can help improve your wellbeing:
- Practice relaxation
- Spend time in nature, either being active or enjoying the outdoors
- Engage your brain in a new activity or start an old one
- Spend time with family and friends
Helping you to switch off
Here’s a couple of interesting and we hope useful articles on the topic of ‘switching off’ whilst on leave from work:
- https://www.frame-recruitment.com/blog/how-to-switch-off-from-work-when-you-go-on-holiday/?page=3
- https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/aug/24/going-on-holiday-how-to-switch-off
And don’t just believe the research, we asked a few people in Corporate Shipbuilding their thoughts on taking time off and what they enjoy doing, have a read and maybe you’ll be inspired:
Bo-Erik Blomqvist
“If you asked my family they would probably tell you that I’m not all that good at taking time off from work but I like to think over recent years I have got a little better. For me when I do take time off it’s not necessarily about getting on a plane as that feels a lot like the day job!
I really enjoy spending time in my garden, although this seems to be a job with no clear end date and I also like getting out into the local countryside with my dogs.
We all work extremely hard, so I encourage each of you to take a break, switch off all work devices and relax. You’ll come back so much more refreshed and energised.”
Fidelma Bannigan
“I need/like to take time off for a little time to re-energise and completely switch off. I usually like to get away to a beach resort as a sun lover, relax, eat, drink and read a good book.
I usually like to try somewhere different for each holiday, which happens to be Greece for now!”
Alex Francis
“I enjoy taking annual leave as I get to reset, spend time with family and come back performing better. I have a 4-year-old boy who keep me busy, and I love to see him just be himself, connecting with him and overall, as a family. It’s hard to do this when not taking the appropriate time out of my work. We travel to Menorca and I get to see him play football with the kids there and in my mind, I am seeing the next Messi learning from others!
I always feel refreshed after taking leave as taking my mind off my work benefits me. When I return, I sometimes see items in a different way and tasks I may have been stuck on or taking longer to do become easier. I think this is because I have given myself the chance to refresh and take a step back.
It’s easy to feel guilty about taking time out but it’s important to look after yourself and spend time with those around you.”
Out of office notifications
It’s important that when you do take time off that you turn on your out of office notifications in Outlook, that way people will know you are not available and enables you to properly switch off. It’s helpful to include a return date and a person to contact whilst you are away and try to avoid the ‘if it’s urgent, call my mobile’ approach!