As the year draws to a close, many of us reflect on the months that have passed and contemplate the year ahead. This period offers us a valuable opportunity to re-calibrate our minds and bodies and to embrace the therapeutic benefits of taking a break.
Cognitive Impact
During a more relaxed period, one can declutter the clogged-up cognitive processes, resulting in improved mindfulness, creative thinking, and better decisions that will enhance your professional performance.
Reflect and Readjust
The annual cycle’s end brings a natural juncture for self-reflection and evaluation of accomplishments and unfulfilled goals. It is expected to experience a sense of urgency to tie up loose ends, which can lead to increased stress and anxiety.
However, this is also an opportunity to recognise that perfection is an unattainable ideal and that it is okay not to have completed every task or achieved every goal set at the beginning of the year. Ask yourself, “Did I set realistic goals in the first place?”
Self-care and Work-life Balance
People prioritising self-care and relaxation demonstrate a balanced approach to work and personal life, showcasing resilience and managing stress effectively. These attributes attract employers seeking individuals who can perform under pressure while maintaining a healthy mindset and work-life balance.
From a head-hunter’s perspective, individuals prioritising self-care will likely exhibit higher energy levels, focus, and resilience, making them valuable assets to potential employers. In a competitive job market, candidates who demonstrate the ability to manage their well-being effectively are viewed as capable of sustaining high performance over the long term.
Reconnect with the Self
Moreover, a holiday allows us to reconnect with our passions, hobbies, and personal interests. Engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfilment outside work and family responsibilities contributes to our overall sense of fulfilment.
In these moments of leisure and recreation, we can find inspiration and renewed motivation. This, in turn, positively impacts our productivity and performance in all areas of our lives.
Executives who actively engage in hobbies and personal interests are viewed as grounded and able to function multi-dimensionally.
Delegating and Trusting Your Team
Only insecure executives keep following up on their team during their vacation time. If you have developed your team’s competencies, you should trust they can perform.
This will also enable you to assess how they cope without you at the lead. The better they cope, the bigger the feather in your cap.
No Need to Break the Bank
In emphasising the importance of taking a holiday, it is significant to note that an expensive vacation is not a requirement for relaxation. Executives who exhibit resourcefulness and creativity in finding suitable holiday destinations within families’ budgets are perceived as financially astute, not only in their personal lives but also in business and able to deliver projects within budget. These qualities are highly valued in the workplace, demonstrating an individual’s ability to navigate challenges and find solutions in taxing financial times.
In conclusion, as the year-end approaches, embracing the opportunity for re-calibration and reflection is crucial. Consider that you cannot pour from an empty cup when you start a new year.
Operating since 1990, Auguste (Gusti) Coetzer is the doyenne of executive search in the Sub-Saharan Africa recruitment industry and is the founder and CEO of People Power Placements SA (PTY) Ltd, trading as Auguste Coetzer Executive Recruitment. P3 is part of a global recruitment partnership Talentor that operates across five continents in 35 countries and 52 offices.
