Human Resources Advice
How Taking Vacations Can Be Productive
Written by Anna Lempereur for Gaebler Ventures
Many people avoid taking vacations because they feel like they will become less productive. Vacations can actually cause you to become more productive at work -- here's how.
There are two groups of people who we find often in the workplace -- people who rarely and sometimes never take vacations in order to spend more time at work, and people who do take vacations and spend the entire time buried in blackberries and laptops, keeping a constant connection with work.
These are the two groups of people you want to avoid falling into. Taking vacations - that is, real vacations without any disruptions from work - on a regular basis can actually do a lot of good for your company and increase productivity as a whole.
When To Take Vacations
When you are burdened with the most amount of work and feel overwhelmed, you should not decide to take a vacation just yet.
Leaving a large amount of work will only stress you out during your time off. The purpose of your vacation is to escape the worries that come in hand in hand with work, not bring yourself into them. Take your vacation when work is at a steady and reasonable pace, so you will be more likely to put your mind at ease.
How To Spend Vacations
As previously mentioned, you want to avoid spending your vacation connected with the work world. If you are planning on sitting on your blackberry during your time off, you might as well not even take a vacation at all.
The point of a vacation is to clear your head of all disruptions and problems at work, and refresh your mind for your return. Simply enjoy yourself, and participate in leisurely activities that will keep you busy and worry-free. Try to avoid thinking about anything related to work.
How Long To Take Vacations
Anywhere from two to four weeks off is acceptable for a healthy vacation. Too little time off will not give you enough time to yourself, and too much time off can possibly throw you off when you return to the workplace.
Once you return to work after your vacation, you will have a fresh start and be able to think thoroughly, and more outside the box. Taking vacations is essential because they will make you relaxed and in a good mood after returning to the workplace. You will less likely become distracted easily, which will cause you to be more productive overall.
Anna Lempereur is a freelance writer interested in writing about small business. She is currently a Journalism major at the University of Albany in New York.
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