| Why the return to work after the holidays should include 2 days for email clearing….
Rest and sleep are both regarded as good for us. Too much of each can be a bad thing but how much is enough? Mrs Thatcher was famous for only needing 4 hours sleep but most of us need a lot more than that to function. Some workaholics function very well – being busy all the time. Some people on family holiday check their blackberries and argue that this is LESS stressful than NOT doing so. If we assume the standard UK holiday allocation is enough for most people you would wonder how on earth the Americans manage on so little (sometimes only one week per year). However, travel itself can be stressful and sometime sour arrangements can only lead to disaster. Two recent cases of drivers falling asleep whilst tired overseas illustrate this. In my day as a medical evacuation doctor I became convinced that many a heart attack was caused by the 3 am arrival and the unfit man lugging a heavy suitcase up the steps to the apartment in Spain! One concern I have for many people is that they dread their last day of holiday. Why? Because they know they will come back to hundreds or sometimes thousands of emails. In my opinion employers need to adapt to this obvious fact and allow the first 1-2 days back for clearing up the backlog. The stress caused by not having such a system is barely bearable for many people. My advice is enjoy the holiday and plan well, rest properly during the holiday, get insured and be safe. |
