We are used to living with stress: planning the whole day from scratch, rushing to work, feeling like we are running out of time. A long list of things to do: the tension becomes part of our daily schedule. We try to be as productive as possible in order to achieve our goals and meet the expectations of our managers. And above all, we forget or avoid taking holidays and resting. But rest is not something to be taken lightly: it is an important part of our work.
Almost 36% of French people have already had a burnout. We try to grow our careers by working more and more, but we forget to rest. We prefer not to ignore the load that is building up in front of us in the short term, but we don't necessarily consider that in the long term the absence of rest can lead to undesirable consequences. Nevertheless, rest is one of the most important factors in our success. The more we are overworked and tired, the more impulsive our choices will be, and the quality of our decisions and work may decrease.
Rest is not about being lazy or avoiding work. It is necessary for our health and to do our best when we work. So what is the ideal length of holiday? A study by Finnish researchers in Tampere states that 8-11 consecutive days of holiday are enough to recover and recharge your batteries. The first week of your holiday is the most important period. To make the most of your holiday, disconnect completely from work. This may seem impossible if you receive 100 emails a day: you will want to reduce your workload after your holiday. Put on your autoresponder, unplug your cables and choose an activity that interests you. A good way to disconnect is to do some sports during your holiday.
Dedicate the second week to rest! You will feel it: you will finally start to enjoy your holiday. You'll stop thinking about your work and you'll even start to trust your replacements (you never know!). But be careful, the more invested you are in your job, the more days you'll need to switch off.
If you're lucky enough to have three weeks' holiday, use the last week to get back into the work mindset. But don't just turn on your computer, answer calls and check your email. Use this week to reflect on your professional wishes and plans and set yourself some real goals. That way you'll be more motivated to start work straight after the holidays.
As we all know, a single day's work can make us tired even after a month's holiday. Being immersed in work, in our daily tasks and routines makes a big contrast to days without a computer. You take coffee breaks, but you still feel tired. Why is that? An ideal rest is either in a quiet and comfortable place where you can even enjoy a 10-15 minute nap, or you can take a playful or sporty break to disconnect from everyday problems.
Relaxing is not a luxury or a whim, it is vital for all humans. If you are a fan of napping, your ideal solution is to do 15 minutes of yoga or meditation. The most important thing when relaxing is to try not to think about all the things you have to do every day. Sit down in a quiet place, close your eyes and start breathing deeply. Try to concentrate on your breathing. After a few minutes you will start to feel your heartbeat, the sensations in your body. You should be able to find the areas of tension in your body and gently release them. If you can't concentrate yourself, there are plenty of mobile apps for relaxation.
Very often, the first thing we do when we have a few minutes to spare - we check our social networks. Looking at the latest news on Facebook is not a break, on the contrary. The time spent on social networks reinforces the torment of the mind and does not allow you to put your thoughts on pause.
But taking a break from sports could also be very effective. Running, working out at the office and other small activities will help you unplug from work and relax. With Squadeasy, taking a sports break is very easy, just download our application and choose an activity that best suits your situation. Create your team and have fun with your colleagues.