It has been an intense 18 months and living through a global pandemic is not something we thought we would have to endure, but here we are. Many of us have made our home our workplace and yes, we may have had some time off work during the pandemic but it just wasn’t quite the same as many people found it hard to switch off.
With restrictions easing throughout the UK many of us are eager to use up some annual leave and actually get away somewhere or just have a good break. After almost two years of restrictions, a lot of uncertainty and fear, we are able to have a well-deserved rest. However, it is important to actually make the most of your time off to properly relax and unwind. Not only does this help your mental health but it also refreshes so you can get back to work feeling fresh and ready to go.
To help make the most of your time off there are a couple of things to consider and put into practice.
Have a plan that allows you to relax
It can be tempting when on annual leave to squeeze in as many plans as possible. Whether that be making plans with friends or family, or planning to see every tourist attraction under the sun in a couple of days. Of course, have a plan to really enjoy your time off but don’t over do it. Have plenty of free time factored in to allow you to do what you fancy doing. We work to a routine and structure every day, having that flexibility will really help you to feel relaxed.
Don’t spend too much money
“It’s the first holiday I’ve had in so long! Money is no object, life is for living!” is something many people are thinking right now after the 18 months we have had. Although the meaning behind it is true that life is for living, overspending on your time off will bring you crashing back to reality when you return to work and your bank balance is in a sorry state. This will take away from your refreshed feeling and leave you feeling stressed and worried.
Properly switch off from work
How can you properly relax and unwind from work if you’ve got one eye on your emails, or checking them each morning? Try to reduce this as much as possible or just don’t do it all. It can Switching off and resting effectively on leave sometimes be easier said than done but the likelihood is that anything that comes in during your time off can wait until you return – if it’s urgent one of your colleagues would pick it up. To help you forget about work during your time off plan ahead whilst you’re at work. Cross the T’s and dot the I’s. Make sure everything is ready for your time off plenty of time before you go. This will really help you to relax knowing that everything is in good hands.
Find what actually relaxes you
Being aware of what actually relaxes you and what doesn’t can really help you to manage that properly. If going to busy areas or tourist attractions actually stresses you out, don’t go. If you find painting relaxing, or just lying in the sunshine or swimming then make sure you do plenty of that. Everyone is different and it is down to you to learn what works best for you.
Pre-plan your return to work
Coming back to work after a lovely break to find a huge stack of emails, meetings and generally lots to catch up on will create a lot of stress and can often take away from the benefits of having leave. It sounds strange, but before you leave for your time off, plan your return to work. If possible, block time out when you return to allow yourself time to catch up with anything, don’t book things in during this time.
More information
The Webinar on ‘Switching off and resting effectively on leave’ is being delivered live on Thursday 19th August at 12:00pm-12:30pm, please use the following link to register for this session –
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5394207761187933198
If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.
If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.