Plan every day of your vacation or take it as it comes?
There are no right or wrong ways to spend your leave, says psychologist Louise Lind.
One should consider whether the desire to maximize the vacation actually allows you to enjoy it as well.
Four out of ten officials report that they are expected to be available for work during their vacation, according to a survey by Unionen.
There is some research that indicates that it's not always bad to attend a meeting during your vacation. However, there must be factors such as flexibility so that it doesn't become a burden. It must always be entirely voluntary to work, says Louise Lind, psychologist and research and development manager at Mindler.
Good example
The survey also shows that managers' behavior has great significance.
As a manager, one should set a good example that helps employees make wise choices. It's important that if you as a manager tell your employees to take time off and rest, you don't do the opposite yourself.
Last year, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency released its report showing that stress-related sick leaves are increasing.
Louise Lind believes that recovery is needed throughout the year, not just during vacation.
Our body is not designed to stress for eleven months and then recover in one month. Our body is designed to exert itself and rest alternately.
Evaluate your vacation
According to the Vacation Act, you have the right to four weeks of consecutive vacation, but some people divide it up. Louise Lind thinks it can be difficult to wind down when the vacation finally comes if the time before is stressful.
Then the first week will probably just be about trying to get your brain to start unwinding a bit. Then it's definitely good with consecutive vacation. But it's hard to say that everyone should have it.
Daring to put yourself first and doing what you think is best for yourself is, according to Louise Lind, a good method to avoid overdoing it during your vacation.
If you feel that your vacation is the only chance you have all year to unwind, it may be a signal that you lack recovery. You can't say "this is how you should spend your vacation" but what I can send with is that there will be more vacations. Evaluate this vacation and you'll have a small hint for next summer.
Psychologist Louise Lind provides tips on how to think before, during, and after your vacation:
Air in the schedule
The week before your vacation, it may be good to try to have more air in your schedule and not schedule all important meetings there.
Recovery activities
Recovery looks different for everyone. During your vacation, there are several activities to wind down. It can be anything from tinkering in the garage to knitting or going out for a run.
If you have a job where you are very physically active, maybe activities that aren't physical are better suited.
Recovery doesn't have to be an all-day activity. It can be enough to chill in a hammock for 15 minutes or drink a cup of coffee outdoors.
Set aside time
Once you're back at work, it's good to go into your calendar and set aside some administrative time to catch up, avoid a rough start.
Evaluate
Evaluate your vacation. Do what you've planned, sit down and evaluate, and then you'll have a small hint for next summer. The vacation will come again – it doesn't have to be perfect.
