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A long holiday and time off from your regular work duties is important as it gives you room for variation and recovery, which is good both physically and mentally, especially if you have been feeling stressed* at work. One of the most common causes of stress at work is poor work organisation. Associate professor Roger Persson, occupational and organisational psychology researcher at the Department of Psychology, says that an unclear work organisation often generates stress issues and is something that applies to all sectors.
“A poor work organisation means that the work is organised in such a way that the work duties are not matched by relevant resources. This can manifest itself through, for example, an uneven workload, lack of communication, unclear responsibilities, that the employees don’t know how they should prioritise different tasks, and/or a lack of training for the tasks the employees are expected to perform. For example, it is not uncommon for employees to be expected to manage several types of administrative systems without training in how they work.”
Do you have any clever, practical tips on how to get rid of looming stress before the holidays?
“People are different, some may want to clean their office and unwind during the last few days before going on holiday. Others may want to clean their office after the holiday. Generally it’s good to be aware of your own and the organisation’s priorities, and to consult with your manager and colleagues before going on holiday. In case you are worried that the holiday means that you will soon have to spend time with children, relatives, family and friends, there’s perhaps not much the employer can do about it.”
What should you do if you feel like you want to bring your phone/computer home and check emails etc. because you feel stressed that something at work may need to be handled while you are away?
“It depends entirely on what’s at stake. Sometimes, it may be sensible and necessary to bring your phone and computer home with you. As a rule, however, you should have organised your work so that you can be off duty when you’re on holiday, and work only while you’re at work. It’s important to make sure that you are in charge of the technology and that it serves your purposes so that you don’t become a victim of it. Take control and go on- and offline on your own terms. One step in this process could be that you and the other members of your organisation agree on what is expected of you while on holiday. Agree on your expectations and respect each other’s time off.”
At what point does the holiday become a stress factor in itself, and what should you be wary of?
“The benefit of a holiday is that we are able to spend our time as we please. But if our priorities are not clear, and our inner ambitions take over, a holiday can also create stress. Often we feel that there are many things that we want or should do, while realising that we either can’t or don’t have the time to do it all. You should also remember that certain holiday activities do not always provide recovery for the body and mind. For example, it might feel great to take a two-week vacation in the United States and relax while receiving new impressions and being intellectually stimulated. On the other hand, on the same trip we will perhaps also eat more junk food and provoke our inner clock and circadian rhythm, which means we will have to struggle with jet lag when we get home.”
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