Taking vacations isn't a big part of our work culture in my part of the world. A lot of people work for a whole year without taking vacations and it's not because they wouldn't want to take that. Instead, a lot of institutions make it impossible for workers to take vacations.
At the back of most employee's minds, they know that there are too many layoffs going on in several organizations. This has become worse since COVID and it has subsequently doubled down on the decision of employees to hold off on taking vacations. In my experience, the major reason people ever decide to take a vacation from work is due to health issues.
The 2 days of vacation I ever took when I was in the Banking sector were also due to health issues. I was getting symptoms of malaria when I came back from work on a Tuesday. I knew Wednesday was another working day and this was a few months after the lockdown that came with COVID. I forced myself to make an appearance in my workplace the next day and it took a joint effort from the marketing manager of the bank at the time to secure that 2 days vacation for me.
Thinking about that moment, maybe they just didn't want to risk getting infected in case it turned out I was dealing with COVID.
Who knows?
My point though is that I looked forward to any national celebration that warranted a public holiday. If recognized by our Bank, I used the day to give myself a mini vacation and relax.
My approach to vacations changed when I left that sector.
You know the typical "going for a trip" as some sort of vacation, lodging in a hotel or just staying away from home, hanging out in such places and completely zoning out from work. That's vacation, right?
I haven't been in the conventional 9 - 5 sector since the second quarter of 2021 and I've had my fair share of vacation experience since then to know that being on vacation gives a feel-good vibe. It's nice because resting is nice and the feeling of being recharged through vacation is a good one. It's a good activity to engage in for anyone in the creative industry and a good way to avoid risking mental burnout.
The problem I noticed is that even when I'm on vacation, there are times when I feel like I shouldn't be having this much rest or fun. Haha. A part of me usually feels like there is so much more that still needs to be achieved and I struggle with that a lot when I go on vacation during the Christmas season, just before New Year.
I find myself being lost in thought of what's going to happen the next year. I continually ask myself if I did enough to be on vacation. This is why I ended up showing up to do work stuff on New Year's Day. My mind was messing with me and a part of me ended up working even when I was supposed to be on a vacation.
At the moment, I haven't been in a lot of full-blown vacations. Instead, I try to find time in my daily life to just zone out from work, worries, and reality. Those are moments I exist without thinking too much about people, work, success, or failure.
I try to do that when I'm washing up, eating, working out, or having a discussion with my family. Those moments help me to relax my mind and rebuild my mental fortitude. It's almost like a mini moment of vacation I give myself each day.
I'm still looking forward to an already scheduled proper vacation in December. That would be my first International vacation. I can't wait to buzz that like a kid on sugar.
Thanks For Not Missing Any Full-stop or Comma.
Thumbnail Image is mine, shared from my, taken with my phone Camera.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha