Those of you who have gotten used to hearing from me every day or two may have been wondering where I’ve been this week. Fortunately for me, I’ve been sitting on the beach in Jamaica, drinking frozen things, enjoying my husband’s company, and reading. And that’s pretty much it. I check my email once a day. I’m having a single business phone call this week. No other work.
If you said yes, I applaud you.
If you said no, you’re probably from the US (or Asia). And what’s more, you’re most likely to be in a job in mid-to-senior management.
American managers as a group are woefully under-vacationed. Maybe it’s the influence of our Puritanical forefathers, maybe it’s our self-acclaimed ‘go-getter’ national character. Whatever the reasons, a recent study by Expedia shows that Americans get fewer paid vacation days than workers in most countries – and still don’t use all of them.
So why is that a problem? Working hard is a good thing, right? Doesn’t the early bird get the worm, etc.?
Not so much. Actually, it’s more like all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (or Jill a dull girl). Studies show that people who work too many days, weeks or months without a significant break are far more likely to suffer from a variety of mental, emotional and physical ills, and that the quality of their work begins to diminish rather dramatically.
The dangers of overwork are even greater in high-stress jobs, especially those that involve quick decision-making and require the ability to understand and respond to large quantities of information.
Sounds like leadership to me.
So the next time you’re tempted to work through vacation or to cancel your vacation plans because of an emergency at work (Americans also do this more than anyone else) – just say no.
I raise my pina colada to you in a show of solidarity.
