Work, holidays and wellness
July 2005

The modern competitive environment in which we are living and operating, the need for further success and progress, has definitely a negative impact on the time and quality of our holidays.

But did we ever wonder what is the impact of this growing problem on our physical and psychological health and our quality of life? How this can influence our overall productivity and safety at the workplace?

Recent research has shown that people who do not take sufficient quality vacations, have a significant negative burden on their health. Evidence indicating that good holidays is an indispensable part of a healthy way of life, is accumulating.

Holidays offer not only pleasure but allow us to escape from the intense, chronic, continuous daily stress. For people who want to live many healthy years, diminishing stress through holidays is a necessary precondition.

Women in high managerial positions, with autonomy and decision making authority, have three times as much chances for cardiac illness in comparison with other hard working women without directing power and responsibilities. Without good quality vacations, women of the first group, will not be able to rejuvenate and continue their difficult tasks.

Everybody has to realize that in the same manner we need healthy food, regular exercising and avoid smoking, we also need good holidays for a healthy body and mind.

It is therefore not correct to accept compromises concerning vacations issues. Any decrease will have negative repercussions not only to our somatic and psychological health but as well to our efficiency and productivity.

Research has shown that holidays that are most efficient for our health, are those longer than 10 days. Additionally it should be taken into consideration that a minimum 2 to 3 days are necessary in order to get dissociated from the daily problems that were previously preoccupying us.

We would not exaggerate if we were to say that the longer the holidays are, the better the result is. However, realistically for many this is not possible. What we should keep in mind is that even short duration vacations, have the power to revitalize us.

A major risk that we have in case of neglecting the importance of our holidays, is the burn out syndrome.

The frequency of the burn out syndrome among working class people of all levels, is increasing. Those with top managerial positions, are much more at risk for this syndrome.

It is to be noted that more and more people while they do take holidays however they stay in contact, preoccupied and handling daily problems of their work and experiencing the relevant stress. Mobile phones, laptops, internet and other communication means that we have today, allow us to be in contact with our working environment and colleagues or clients constantly from any where in the world.

We should not forget that the result of such a situation can be harmful to our overall health as well as for the rest of the family in holidays with us. Measures should be taken in order to diminish this negative phenomenon and allow us to really have free, quality time for ourselves and for spending it with the rest of the family.

Compromises in relation to holidays should not be accepted. The cost of the absence of holidays of good quality and sufficient duration, for the body and mind of working people is serious and cumulating and therefore everybody at all levels, especially those at the top positions, should not allow the lack of pleasant and restful vacations. 

In conclusion, it has to be stressed out that holidays is an indispensable part of a healthy life style. Vacations contribute to revitalization and rejuvenation, improving efficiency and productivity.

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