The ultimate vacation month is here!
If you're in a European city, you probably already feel the slowing down around you, leading to an almost complete shutdown of the city in August.
You can even find ice cream shops that close for the summer holidays! (and it's not like they have that much of a summer here….)
Coming from a different culture, where you're expected to be available for your work 24/7, including during holidays, I was initially shocked by it.
Vacationing for 3-4 weeks every summer? I didn't think it was even possible for working people.
But actually, it's one of the things I value the most about Europeans -
they genuinely respect their need for time off and ensure everyone, including their employees, gets it. And as it turns out, businesses don't fall apart because of it.
In fact, taking time off is the best way to handle the constant stress of modern life.
Instead of breaking under pressure, you grow stronger. This concept, known as Antifragility, means you don't just bounce back from stress; you become better because of it. While stress is often out of our control, recovery is in our hands.
The real issue with modern life isn't the stress itself, but the lack of recovery.
We're always busy, and downtime is often seen as wasted time.
This perception is not only dangerous to our physical and mental health, but we also miss out on the opportunity to benefit from the stress.
The ability to recover separates those who enjoy well-being from those who ultimately face burnout.
Tal Ben Shahar, a happiness expert, suggests a three-tiered approach to recovery -
micro, mid, and macro:
Micro-level recovery includes short breaks of a few seconds up to an hour throughout your day. It means stopping what you're doing to do something relaxing, such as deep breathing, closing your eyes and listening to music, stretching or exercising, gazing out the window, or taking a short walk outside.
Tal Ben Shahar also calls them MVIs - minimum viable interventions. These intentional relaxing actions help calm your mind and body, countering the flood of stress hormones from your amygdala, the brain's processing center for emotions, especially fear and pleasure.
Mid-level recovery involves longer breaks like a day off or ensuring you get a good night's sleep.
Arianna Huffington, a best-selling author and the founder of the Huffington Post, emphasizes that success comes with sufficient sleep.
Most adults need 7-9 hours per night, but most of us get less. Continuous lack of sleep is linked to numerous health issues, such as depression, anxiety, a weakened immune system, and an increase in the likelihood of illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Good sleep, however, pays off not only physically but also in productivity, creativity, and overall cognitive performance.
Macro-level recovery means taking extended time to disconnect and unwind whether on vacation or just staying home to chill.
Your body and mind need these longer breaks from the daily grind to decompress and recharge. It's not just about maintaining your health; it's about maintaining your happiness and performance levels. These breaks make you stronger and healthier in every way.
How often you take these breaks is up to you, but studies suggest: Pausing for recovery every 90 minutes, Taking one day off a week, And enjoying a couple of weeks of vacation per year.
For many of us, summer is a perfect time for this longer break. If you can take this time off, be mindful of your need to unwind and pay attention to how you spend your free time. Try to immerse yourself in an enjoyable and recharging recreational activity. It can be any physical or mental activity, from reading or listening to music to camping, hiking, or surfing.
Prioritizing recovery is investing in yourself. Just look at my photo - don't you feel like being as relaxed as I am? Trust me, you're worth it.
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