Thursday, June 22, 2006
What constitutes the perfect stress busting holiday?
Carole Spiers - The Empowerment Guru grows successful people. An International Female Keynote Speaker, Conference Chair and Business Mentor who helps you to achieve step by step success with inspiration and motivation. www.carolespiers.com
Every year thousands of people set forth on their annual summer holiday.
They take a mandatory two weeks and set of on an adventure with their family. This precious time is regarded a chance to recharge batteries and forget about the office. For many it does exactly that and in Europe many companies even have an annual 2 week closure to ensure all their employees get a break and chance to chill out.
Sadly in Britain today many chose not to take their full entitlement of annual leave and at best make do with short breaks whilst still in contact with the office. The fear culture is really biting. If I am away too long will I be replaced – will the company decide they can manage without me and make me redundant – what if I lose business whilst I am away.
The advent of short term contracts and move towards self employed status does make it more difficult for individuals to force themselves to take an annual holiday and so the demon stress is given a chance to breed both within organisations and individuals themselves. Stress is contagious and one individual who refuses to acknowledge that he / she needs a break can cause havoc in an otherwise health organisation
To perform effectively we all need to take a decent holiday!
So what constitutes a really good stress busting holiday?
Well, it is certainly not a long weekend away with mobile phone and computer in constant contact with the office. To truly unwind there are certain ingredients necessary to ensure you return to work refreshed and ready to tackle the pressures of 21 century living and working.
Short breaks are really good for you. Your body needs to recharge its batteries and this should be done on regular basis. So dont just save up all your holiday and think you can recharge your body in one hit.....go away for a couple of nights....a weekend.....and let your body switch off from the frenetic living that we all do.
7- tips for you
1. Choose a holiday that is not going to put you and your family under undue pressure – a
fourteen hour, non stop drive to the South of France is not really a good idea if you have
toddlers.
2. Plan your trip well in advance. Pre book seats on trains boats and planes where possible.
3. If you are driving, research your route and make sure your vehicle is fit to undertake the
journey. Allow for plenty of comfort stops.
4. If you are feeling especially stressed try and take your holiday in a familiar area travelling by a familiar route so reducing the actual stress of the holiday
5. Think carefully before planning a holiday with friends. A day out with them may be fine but do you really want to spend two weeks together? Sitting on the beach recently I overheard a
group of four friends on holiday together discussing the plans for the coming days. One
couple really did not want to spend time on the beach they likes touring around and had great
plans. The other couple just loved being on the beach and wanted to spend more time there.
Already the tension was building between them and it was only day one!!
6. Do not set an ambitious itinerary. Allow yourself time to just relax and read a book, sit on the
beach or just generally chill out. Give yourself permission to just sit and let the clouds roll by if
that is really what you fancy doing.
7. Once away from work stop fretting about it. Enjoy every moment of your leisure time and
when its time to go home go with the knowledge that you have enjoyed every moment of your
holiday.
Carole Spiers - The Empowerment Guru grows successful people. An International Female Keynote Speaker, Conference Chair and Business Mentor who helps you to achieve step by step success with inspiration and motivation. www.carolespiers.com
Every year thousands of people set forth on their annual summer holiday.
They take a mandatory two weeks and set of on an adventure with their family. This precious time is regarded a chance to recharge batteries and forget about the office. For many it does exactly that and in Europe many companies even have an annual 2 week closure to ensure all their employees get a break and chance to chill out.
Sadly in Britain today many chose not to take their full entitlement of annual leave and at best make do with short breaks whilst still in contact with the office. The fear culture is really biting. If I am away too long will I be replaced – will the company decide they can manage without me and make me redundant – what if I lose business whilst I am away.
The advent of short term contracts and move towards self employed status does make it more difficult for individuals to force themselves to take an annual holiday and so the demon stress is given a chance to breed both within organisations and individuals themselves. Stress is contagious and one individual who refuses to acknowledge that he / she needs a break can cause havoc in an otherwise health organisation
To perform effectively we all need to take a decent holiday!
So what constitutes a really good stress busting holiday?
Well, it is certainly not a long weekend away with mobile phone and computer in constant contact with the office. To truly unwind there are certain ingredients necessary to ensure you return to work refreshed and ready to tackle the pressures of 21 century living and working.
Short breaks are really good for you. Your body needs to recharge its batteries and this should be done on regular basis. So dont just save up all your holiday and think you can recharge your body in one hit.....go away for a couple of nights....a weekend.....and let your body switch off from the frenetic living that we all do.
7- tips for you
1. Choose a holiday that is not going to put you and your family under undue pressure – a
fourteen hour, non stop drive to the South of France is not really a good idea if you have
toddlers.
2. Plan your trip well in advance. Pre book seats on trains boats and planes where possible.
3. If you are driving, research your route and make sure your vehicle is fit to undertake the
journey. Allow for plenty of comfort stops.
4. If you are feeling especially stressed try and take your holiday in a familiar area travelling by a familiar route so reducing the actual stress of the holiday
5. Think carefully before planning a holiday with friends. A day out with them may be fine but do you really want to spend two weeks together? Sitting on the beach recently I overheard a
group of four friends on holiday together discussing the plans for the coming days. One
couple really did not want to spend time on the beach they likes touring around and had great
plans. The other couple just loved being on the beach and wanted to spend more time there.
Already the tension was building between them and it was only day one!!
6. Do not set an ambitious itinerary. Allow yourself time to just relax and read a book, sit on the
beach or just generally chill out. Give yourself permission to just sit and let the clouds roll by if
that is really what you fancy doing.
7. Once away from work stop fretting about it. Enjoy every moment of your leisure time and
when its time to go home go with the knowledge that you have enjoyed every moment of your
holiday.
Carole Spiers - The Empowerment Guru grows successful people. An International Female Keynote Speaker, Conference Chair and Business Mentor who helps you to achieve step by step success with inspiration and motivation. www.carolespiers.com
# posted by Carole Spiers @ 10:45 PM 
