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Dear Friends and Clients,

What are your plans for a summer vacation? I hope that you’re looking forward to a relaxing break, whether it’s time on a beach, exotic travels or a recuperative spell in your own garden.

Sometimes my clients say they feel guilty about taking holidays. Or they complain that the thought of getting organized for a vacation is too overwhelming. And when they are most in need of a break they may be the most insistent about the impossibility of getting away.

As a coach, it’s not my job to be directive. But when clients start explaining why they can’t manage a holiday, I often feel the urge to give blunt feedback.

As I’ll discuss in this issue, people who take regular time off tend to be healthier, happier and more productive than their colleagues who keep their noses pressed to the grindstone. And if you feel like you can’t manage a vacation, it may be a sign that you really need one.

Warm wishes,
Bev

Want To Be More Productive?
Then Take a Vacation!

May 20th, 2008 * Number 82

Americans work more days than most other people. Our workaholic lifestyle must seem absurd to Europeans, who routinely take off four to six weeks a year. A recent study of 49 countries found that Americans, averaging two weeks of annual vacation, take off less holiday time than everybody but the Vietnamese.

There is something in our culture that makes us reluctant to use all our vacation time, even if our employers guarantee us only two measly weeks a year. This is the case even though numerous studies suggest that holidays are critical to wellness and high performance.

If you’re hesitating about scheduling time off, it’s time to get over it. Let go of the guilt and consider these good reasons to take a vacation.

Reduce stress. In a high pressure work environment, your body is under constant assault by stressful events. At each new instance of stress, your brain sends messenger chemicals, like adrenaline and cortisol, that change systems throughout your body. When the tension is unrelenting, day after day, there’s no time for recovery and you may fall into a negative stress cycle. Stressful events trigger physical and psychological responses, which in turn increase stress symptoms like headaches, fuzzy thinking, digestive problems, and weight gain. It takes a while to fall into a serious stress cycle, and it takes more than a few days away from the office for us to let stress go. If you’re feeling burned out, you may be overdue for a holiday.
Get some sleep. Americans are chronically sleep deprived. And studies show that when we aren’t getting enough sleep our brain function is impaired. We’re more likely to have accidents, feel anxiety and find ourselves unable to be creative or learn new things. Although there are limits to how much we can catch up on lost sleep, a vacation is a good step in the right direction.
Be healthy and live long. Much research suggests that regular vacations can reduce the odds that you’ll experience a heart attack or other life-threatening health event. And holidays can be good for what already ails you. People who take vacations tend to feel better and be less troubled by health challenges.
Clear your head. Vacations can be good for your mental health, as well as your physical state. People who take regular holidays are less likely to feel depressed and more likely to get along well with their coworkers.
Improve relationships. Sometimes we get so busy that we don’t spend much time with the people we love the most. Vacations can give us a chance to really listen to our partners and other family members. Plan your holiday so that everybody can have a good time, and allow opportunities to reconnect with one another. But be a little careful – research suggests that couples who aren’t getting along may fight even more if they don’t work out trip details in advance or fail to allow each other some space while they are traveling.
Be youthful. While Americans aren’t good about taking vacations, that trend is diminishing with new generations of workers. Boomers are the worst about taking time off, and younger professionals are much more likely to insist on generous vacation opportunities. Old fuddy-duddies may grouse about colleagues’ vacations, but the young stars in the workplace are more likely to recognize the value of regular holidays.

Want More Insights Related to Your Work Life? In addition to providing executive coaching, Bev is available to speak to your group about a broad range of issues related to productivity and leadership. For reviews of helpful books and an extensive archive of Bev’s newsletters, go to Bev’s Website. Visit her website at www.ClearWaysConsulting.com or email to Bev directly. Bev is associated with Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates.

Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life is published on the first and third Tuesday of each month by Beverly E. Jones of ClearWays Consulting, LLC. Bev is a lawyer and former executive who now coaches accomplished executives and other professionals to bring new direction, energy and enjoyment to their work lives.

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