Elena Baskakova, wellness director of the first hotel of silence in Russia "Mira Silentium" and a specialist in mental health, shares her views on the importance of quality rest for ambitious careerists with RuNews24.ru.
"There is a saying: "A career is not a sprint, but a marathon." This means that the focus is not only on a quick start, but also on the ability to maintain the pace throughout the entire journey. Maintaining a steady pace is a rather difficult task for professionals, requiring careful analysis and planning, like any other form of activity. How can you endure this marathon? How not to quit before the finish line?" the expert shared.
In the conditions of the modern professional environment, rest is often considered an insignificant element that can be postponed for later. Some "workaholics" even feel guilty about their days off, which is a basic need for recuperation. However, research shows that proper rest is critically important for career growth and overall success in the profession.
The art of true relaxation is not about idleness or just lying on the couch, but about the ability to consciously restore strength in order to return to work with new energy and creativity. This is an active process that requires understanding your needs, choosing relaxation methods and creating the right atmosphere. It is important to determine what exactly is needed for recovery - be it physical rest, emotional relief, intellectual stimulation or spiritual enrichment. Each of these areas can be extremely useful at different stages of a career.
How to plan a vacation correctly? We think that we know what we need, and often create a scenario for our vacation ourselves. But does this always bring success? Sometimes after a rest, another break is needed, and the reason for this lies in incorrect planning. Many working people do not have enough time to carefully organize their schedule.
An oversaturated program does not allow the body to fully recover, and adaptation to a new time zone and climate also creates additional difficulties. Moreover, many ignore planning physical and emotional relief, which is extremely important.
The feeling that you need another vacation after vacation is a signal from your body that you need more time to recover. To avoid this, it is important to consciously plan your vacation, taking into account your needs and capabilities, which will allow you to return to work with renewed strength and enthusiasm.
What a careerist can do to avoid this situation:
- Plan a long enough vacation: set aside at least two weeks for a full rest to give your body time to recover;
- Do not overload your vacation program: leave time for relaxation and spontaneous activities;
- Delegate work tasks: before vacation, complete important tasks and delegate responsibilities to colleagues;
- Create an information detox around you;
- Gradually return to work: do not rush into complex tasks immediately upon returning;
- Trust the organization of your vacation to professionals.
The last point is especially important. There are specialized teams that, based on research and experience, develop balanced routes and programs. The careerist just needs to understand that in this situation it is worth trusting the professionals and letting go of some aspects of control, which can be difficult for people with a businesslike approach to life.