Many people are wrapping up vacations this week and heading back to work for one of the busiest periods for organizations: Q4. Although you may think that your post-vacation vibes will carry you through the end of 2021, they won’t. Two-thirds of respondents to a 2018 American Psychological Association survey said that their post-vacation positive vibes dissipated within a few days.
What’s a better mental health booster than taking a week-long vacation once or twice a year? Organizational Consultant Paula Davis-Laack says that carving out small slices of relaxation every day is the best solution to recreate positive vibes. For every 90 to 120 minutes of work, Davis-Laack recommends giving yourself five to 10 minutes of downtime. So if you work an eight-hour day, shoot for 50 minutes of downtime each day.
What is the definition of downtime? It’s time when a person is not actively productive, meaning a time when you do not have to produce any results or achieve a goal. It can be time spent in silence or time doing something that brings you joy, but it’s best that the time is continuous – 50 straight minutes of downtime. Every day.
WHAT CAN I DO? Take all of the vacation days you have earned and carve out 50 minutes of downtime each day for yourself. By carving out small slices of relaxation every day you’ll recreate the positive vibes that a vacation offers without the stress that may accompany being out of the office for a week. And, your engagement level should rise as you’ll feel more balanced. To your mental health and your success.
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