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Is a holiday still really a holiday, or does it just mean working extra hard before and after you go away?
Psychologist and author of The Innovation Formula, Dr Amantha Imber, gives advice on how to have a proper break this year.
You deserve it! Train up your colleagues
“Think about which of your workmates could take on some of your workload while you’re on leave. Your boss will love this, because you have just upskilled another team member who can pick up work when you are off sick.”
Communicate
“Let everyone know when you’ll be away. Don’t say things like ‘Feel free to contact me if you need me.’ Trust that your co-workers should be able to deal with any crises that may arise.”
Get rid of temptation
“Emails are like a drug; every now and then, there’s a piece of great news sitting in your inbox, which is why many people constantly check their email – in search of their next ‘hit’ of positive news. When on holiday, delete the mail app from your phone. Set up an ‘out of office’ reply and include someone else’s contact details for urgent enquiries. People won’t expect a response and you don’t have to feel guilty about not replying until you are back from holidays.”
Know it will make you more efficient
“If you stay on the hamster wheel and never take a break, you’ll quickly burn out. Annual leave can do wonders for your creativity. You’ll return full of ideas and ready to take on new challenges – what manager wouldn’t love this?”
