A “Bit” Of Myself
How Much Time Do You Need To Disconnect?
Do You Have A Switch, or Is It An Automated Reaction?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved holidays. Whether it was school, work, or some other routine activity, there’s always been a similarity between them. Whenever I would have to go back to ‘normal’ life, the first thing I would think about was: When is my next holiday, or how much time is left before my next dose of free time?
Some Thoughts
I don’t think it’s just me that feels that way (100% not only me), and I am pretty sure it is a normal human reaction or expectation when you put in a lot of work and focus on your day-to-day activities.
There are periods when you have to meet deadlines, do explicit research and testing, adapt to new workflows and tasks, manage and integrate new people, and of course, the daily new thing to learn.
Being able to disconnect from all that, do non-work-related things, and sometimes take a breath all by yourself is mandatory.
I am sure that there are millions of ways every one of us experiences these things daily. There are also thousands of opportunities and work/lifestyles that can make or break you.
Two things are important here, choosing the right job and having a correct (not saying ideal) work-life relationship. Undoubtably, we are different persons, with different skill sets, views, preferences, and expectations. What you like about your job, I might not, and vice-versa. Not everyone is lucky enough to have the job of his/her dreams, or, at the very least something to look forward to in the morning.
Yes, a job is, first of all, a means to make money and to live in the world, but that does not mean it has to be a pain. Positive thinking, the correct attitude, and finding joy in what you do, has to start with the correct mindset.
I am not even attempting to scratch the surface when it comes to this subject, as it is much too complex to discuss in a few short lines, but rather make a note towards disconnecting from your work life, and to point out one key thing that I believe applies to over 90% of people. No matter how much you love or hate your job, you are always looking forward to the holiday.
If it is not the case for you, it certainly is for me. Getting ready for a vacation, a break, or a holiday has always been something special on its own. Preparing all the little things, making all the lists, assigning tasks, running various errands, last-minute shopping, and countless other activities allow you to get into the hype and get excited for what’s to come.
But, because there’s always a but, and this one is going back to the title, how long does it take you to feel like you’ve disconnected from work and that daily routine?
I know people that disconnect way before the holiday starts and take a long time to start their engines when getting back to everyday life.
Unfortunately or fortunately, as I guess it is all a matter of perspective, I am not part of that category. Although I get excited about the prospect of the actual free time, it takes quite a while until I can say I am in my vacation mood. So, for example, if I only have a 1-week vacation, it takes me 5–6 days to unwind, and before you know it, the deed is done, and I have to reconnect back in 2 days. Maybe even less, if I’m unlucky.
It is quite frustrating and annoying at the same time, cause sometimes, even if I want to disconnect, the work doesn’t let me do it fully. There’s always a concern somewhere and that’s brewing in my brain like well-aged beer.
Yes, jobs give us meaning and are crucial to our well-being, but at the same time, the truth is a normal 8 hours/day, 5 days/week is kind of a lot. You work somewhere around 250 days a year. Maybe a bit less or a bit more based on other factors. It’s more than twice the free time, and that’s taking weekends into the mix.
And that is probably an important factor. If we would work less time in the week, or day, then we wouldn’t wait and hope for a holiday o often. Congrats to the countries that have adopted a 4 days/week working routine or a 6 hours/day one as I think they were thinking of the people.
In the end, life’s not so bad if you know how to enjoy it and make the most of it. The world could do better, but it could also do worse. In reality, it is up to us to make it better, to live better, and to always improve our way of life. In an ideal world, in a way that also takes care of our planet.
I do love my holidays, even if they’re short. Disconnect when you can and whenever you can. If there’s a certain whoever in your life that makes it even brighter, then what more could you desire?
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