The health case for taking a holiday

Published on 29th October, 2024 at 04:20 pm

In an increasingly connected world, our work and personal lives tend to blend into one. Here’s the health case for setting some boundaries on your next holiday.

Reading time: 5 minutes

In this article, you’ll learn:

• The health benefits of taking leave
• Why it’s important to completely switch off when you’re on holiday
• Practical tips to maximise your holiday rest

Having dealt with a number of burnt-out clients, Liz Pretorius, professional development coach and founder of Leap, is a huge proponent of taking leave to help you:

• Get better sleep
• Reduce your stress hormone levels
• Gain new perspectives and boost your creativity and problem-solving skills
• Improve your motivation levels

But taking proper leave is a challenge when we’re digitally connected to our work – especially if the stress of that work is constantly mounting.

Over half of the African workforce in a recent global survey felt their workload had increased in the last year. And research conducted by work productivity tool Slack shows a direct correlation between worries over important projects and increased digital availability with managers and customers, and staying ‘online’ during leave.

But disconnecting for your holiday is critical, according to Pretorius. “Taking time off from work without properly switching off is like leaving the lights of your car on when you’re parked in your garage,” she argues. “You’re not technically using your car, but the battery is still being drained.”

So how do you create that work-life barrier during holidays? Here are a few tips:

Disable work notifications

Notifications are designed to create urgency – something you don’t want during your holiday. Offload work apps, archive work-related WhatsApp groups and disable work-related email notifications during your leave period.

Set an out-of-office (OOO) message

Notify your colleagues at least a week in advance that you’ll be going on leave, and remind them by setting an automated OOO email response. Offer one channel – preferably phone call – to contact you in case of an emergency if that will put your mind at ease. Bonus tip: extend your OOO a couple of days after you get back to give yourself time to catch up on your emails.

Remove any work reminders

This is especially useful if you often work from home. “Our brains are conditioned by stimuli, so having reminders of work hampers your ability to switch off,” says Pretorius. “Change your morning routine, pack away your laptop, bag or desk, and avoid any work-related conversations during your leave.”

Write a back-at-work to-do list

Remove the mental load of worrying about your work by creating a to-do list for when you’re back in the office again. “The list will be there waiting for you, and you can just dive in again,” suggests Pretorius.

Feeling inspired to book a holiday? Read about all the visa-free destinations available to South Africans and rand-friendly countries to visit when you’re on a budget.