Yahoo Lifestyle Beach working to burnout: the importance of actually enjoying your annual leave
The new world of hybrid working means that we no longer have to traipse into the office to get the job done. But WFH no longer necessarily stands for working from home, but working from holiday, with research estimating around six million of us will be logging on by the beach this summer.
The thought of signing in to Zoom meetings while reclining by a pool with an Aperol Spritz in hand may sound like a good balance, but this more flexible approach to work may be leading to unhealthy working habits in the long term. One survey found that 52% of remote workers report working longer hours compared to their office-based counterparts, while one poll found that 66% of respondents frequently work while on annual leave.
The digital nature of work, where your office is effectively in your pocket in the shape of an iPhone, may be pressurising employees to always be ‘on’ in order to present themselves as a top performer, explains Dr Amanda Jones, a senior lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management at King's Business School.
“This may be more likely for those in professional and managerial jobs and is an expectation often communicated by the behaviour of managers and colleagues engaging in the same behaviour,” she tells Harper’s Bazaar. “Those who don’t conform to the expected behaviour may therefore find that they are stigmatised and potentially fear missing out on opportunities within a competitive environment.”
Dr Jones also points towards the growing level of insecurity that employees may feel, particularly in the face of the current job market. A survey from the HR consultancy Ayming UK found that 26% of UK businesses reported making redundancies in 2023, with Britain’s unemployment rate leaping up to 4.2% in April this year.
“Those who consequently fear for their roles may be very keen to demonstrate that they are willing to make sacrifices for the organisation in a bid to enhance their job security,” she adds. “This situation is exacerbated in our current economic climate with associated rising costs.
“There are people whose personalities inevitably lead them towards workaholism, but there are also other contextual factors that may contribute to working on leave. For example, employees may be anxious about what might happen in their absence from work.
“If people are measured against targets or need to work around shifting deadlines (as in many finance jobs, for example), it might simply be that they find it hard to manage leave without the fear of underperforming.”
Working excessively without taking a break can have a significant impact on our wellbeing, with far deeper reaching consequences than simply feeling exhausted.
“You may suffer fatigue, a weakened immune system, musculoskeletal problems from neglecting physical exercise or sitting still for long periods – and it has also been linked with cardiovascular problems such as stroke, heart disease, and hypertension,” Dr Jones warns. “Additionally, it may lead to mental-health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout.”
Burnout is an increasingly common phenomenon, which isn’t always treated with the seriousness it deserves. According to a survey by the mental-health platform Spill, 79% of employees experience burnout at some point in their career, with 35% reporting ‘extreme’ levels. Worryingly, it is thought that nearly one tenth of all occupational illness cases are linked to burnout.
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“Burnout often takes hold before you know what hit you,” Helen Wells, psychotherapist and clinical director at The Dawn Wellness Centre, explains. “It often manifests as anxiety, where you feel hyper-alert and jumpy, constantly worrying about the future. You may also feel depressed and guilty over diminished work performance.
“Irregular sleep patterns can be attributed to burnout, which can get progressively worse as burnout intensifies. This can exacerbate any chronic fatigue you may also be feeling. Stress may also manifest physically, and you may even experience gastrointestinal issues, headaches and muscle pain more frequently.”
Merely ensuring you take frequent rests, breaks and assert suitable boundaries between worktime and playtime can prevent an eruption of health problems.
Without enough breaks, you might experience mental and physical exhaustion, a negative attitude towards your job, and a loss of interest in your work,” Wells says. “This can lead to conflicts with colleagues, problems in personal relationships, increased irritability, and decreased productivity. Proper rest helps avoid these problems, keeping you healthier and more effective in your role.
“Rest allows the mind to recover from fatigue, making problem-solving and decision-making more effective. Breaks also boost energy levels and motivation, which increases productivity and efficiency. Overall, proper rest supports both physical and mental health by reducing stress and preventing burnout, contributing to a more positive work environment and better performance.”
So, before you start packing your laptop into your suitcase, it is important to be mindful of putting some physical and mental space between working and downtime. Annual leave is there to be enjoyed; feeling pressure to keep working will negate any rest you may be trying to get.
“Studies suggest that taking at least two holidays a year is beneficial for both mental and physical health,” Wells says. “Ideally, you want to aim for a week-long break every six months. These breaks help manage work-related stress and maintain productivity.”
But it's not just booking a flight that's important; Dr Jones stresses that taking some time to yourself throughout the working day will also help us be better at our jobs.
“You should take sufficient downtime during the day, including short breaks and a lunch break of 30-60 minutes in a standard day, and try to avoid working weekends,” she says. “Taking a break from work also allows us the space to mull things over and to make better decisions. How often have you been wrestling with a problem only to go and start doing something else and suddenly see the answer?”
Finally, if your need to log on constantly is really starting to affect your wellbeing, it may be time for a sabbatical, Wells suggests.
“There is a good reason that employers are required to provide leave,” agrees Dr Jones. “The advice of leading academics in this field is that employees should not only take this time but switch off from work entirely during it if they wish to protect their wellbeing.”
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