MANAGING Time for a vacation

We all need it, although some need it more than others. Our families and friends become closer to us through it. Our co-workers grow when we take it. Our businesses benefit from it. What is this magic elixir? It’s a simple vacation. For people who feel stale at their jobs, a properly planned vacation is the best way to “recharge the batteries” and rediscover some of the excitement originally felt in a job. It freshens and revives the spirit and provides a breathing space in which you can redefine your goals and bring back new approaches to your work.

Despite the benefits, vacations are frought with anxiety for many people. Some are afraid for their jobs and fear that if they leave the office for awhile, their jobs will be eliminated, their secretaries will be stolen, co-workers will talk about them, or their office will be moved.

For workaholics, vacations can be exasperating. Workaholics can usually be found phoning into the office on the third day of their holiday or taking their dictaphone to the beach to catch up on work. They feel extremely guilty and uncomfortable if they aren’t working. A famous picture in Life magazine, depicting a typical workaholic, showed former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger with a phone in his left hand, a pen in his right hand, and his lap full of reading material while sitting in a barber’s chair.

Working for a demanding, workaholic boss can make it hard to take and enjoy a vacation. Such managers think nothing of calling up an employee on vacation, even if he’s on a beach in Hawaii, to ask a work-related question.

There are people who fear vacations because they like the structured nature of work and wouldn’t know what to do with themselves on a holiday. Taking a va cation requires knowledge of yourself, which frightens some. It requires that you have dreams and that you can be happy without imposed discipline. Some people are afraid to let the little boy or girl inside them come out.

In business there is often a stigma attached to taking time off work. When profits are low and people are working at a furious pace, a holiday can be seen as a boondoggle. Many young people starting out in their careers are wary of taking time off and many senior managers, hard-pressed to improve the bottom line, feel that they can’t afford vacations. Charles Pilliod, who was chief executive officer at Goodyear for 10 years, often bragged that he had only taken four weeks off in the entire period.

Modern businesses promote and encourage “Type A” behavior. Type A individuals try to accomplish too many things in too short a time. They are, according to one researcher, “not only burning the candle at both ends; they’ve also divided it and have it burning at several.” Medical researchers tell us this type of individual is three times more likely to suffer a heart attack than the more relaxed, “Type B” manager. Vacations and the ability to relax during non-work hours can be life-saving for Type A people.

The ability to take and enjoy imaginative vacations is an indication of good mental health. The American Medical Association says relaxation is essential to health and continued psychological renewal. A vacation is also the best opportunity to become closer to the family by spending time with them and sharing experiences.

Business benefits from vacations. Especially in today’s competitive business climate, a busy manager often finds himself simply reacting to crises and can finish each day in a state of total mental exhaustion. A vacation provides a chance to put things in perspective. People are much more productive and creative after an extended holiday. A vacation forces delegation and gives others a chance to grow by giving them greater responsibility.

There are two basic types of vacations. The first type, called the “spillover model,” is where people tend to play as they do at work. So, for example, a doctor might spend holiday time helping out at a clinic in a foreign country. The second type of vacation is called the “compensation model.” In this situation, people act at play in order to satisfy needs not met at work. For example, an accountant may spend his holiday time skiing in the Alps or trekking in Nepal. The type of vacation that is best depends on each individual. The important thing is to understand what is wanted from a vacation and to plan it.

One reason many people find holidays frustrating is because they’ve never given them enough time. Recent statistics show that about 65% of U.S. adults take vacations involving travel and spend an average of only 6.3 nights per vacation. The trend has been to shorter holidays and packaged tours. If a vacation is too short, there is not enough time to unwind and to begin to enjoy a holiday. The benefits of the vacation are not sustained.

Mini-vacations do have their value, however. They are easier to take, as almost any business decision can be put off for a few days, allowing even a Type A individual to take a breather once in awhile. Although not as beneficial as a long holiday, a mini-vacation of one day or several days can refresh the spirit and bring fresh perspective to a job.

An enjoyable vacation usually has the following elements: * Avoiding the clock — Getting over the habit of watching the clock and being away from the highly structured atmosphere of the office is initially frustrating for some. It may require a forced effort, but unwinding is important. * Allowing enough time — The first few days of a vacation require passivit y and relaxation. Too many people don’t allow enough of this relaxation time before either plunging into activities or giving the whole thing up and going back to the office. In her book Workaholics, Marilyn Macholwitz quotes one frustrated executive, just beginning a vacation, as saying: “I’m now dictating this from Acapulco. Nuts, I don’t even leave the phone. I’m pacing around this pool, wondering what I should do next. I’m writing memos, calling the office, calling New York, calling Chicago. I just can’t relax.” * Actively pursuing interests — Following a relaxation period, a person on vacation should become active. These activities will vary with each individual but should be things he has wanted to do for some time and which excite and stimulate him. This part of a vacation takes planning. * Setting free the child within — Vacations are the time to be spontaneous, silly and playful. As the saying goes: “Take time to smell the flowers.”

There is a great benefit in taking a break, both from a personal and a business perspective. People should be encouraged to take holidays. We all need one periodically and return better for it. After all, even Jesus had to get away from the crowds sometimes. So, the next time you hear someone bragging about how he or she hasn’t had a holiday in years, set them straight] William Stanley is director of national mine services at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting Group.