That time of the year has come again. Slowly but surely, holidays are coming to an end, and with that, a new season starts, bringing a few thoughts to mind.
The first one is quite obvious: how important it is to switch off. And by that, I mean to completely disconnect. In the capitalist world we live in, the assumption that more is better is widespread. No matter what, you’re expected to be connected 24/7.
And in a way, we are. There’s always work at the back of my mind, one way or another. HOWEVER, it’s necessary not to be constantly seated in front of the computer or with a cellphone in hand. I don’t know about you guys, but the best ideas (not saying that they’re good 😊) about the business come to me when I’m in the mountains running. It gives my mind peace, time to breathe, and magically connects the dots. I’m not forcing it; I’m not even thinking about it, but it happens.
Similarly, I find this to be true when on holidays. Taking a safe distance from everyday rush gives you perspective, and suddenly, bang, an epiphany! It’s like the old saying that the trees don’t let you see the forest.
I’m not only talking about intellectual output; physical stress is not something to play around with. When you take some time off, your body decompresses. When you’re back, it’s much less likely that you’ll overreact to things. Reality hasn’t changed, but the way you approach it has, leading to much better results.
Another evident truth is the importance of sleep. There’s no way around it. One of the best analogies I’ve come across is that sleep is like a pencil sharpener. It actually sharpens your mind. Have you noticed that you dream much more (literally) during holidays? Perhaps it’s just that you remember your dreams more, but regardless, that feeling is important.
So far, I’ve been focusing on annual leave, but on a smaller scale, the same holds true from day to day and from week to week. I remember that not long ago, France passed a law on the right to disconnect, making it forbidden to send emails or schedule meetings outside of working hours. The French are always one step ahead in certain matters. If you’re in a toxic workplace, this might not change your life much (you won’t be disconnecting anyway), but it’s still a nice measure to implement.
As a business owner, it’s quite difficult for me not to constantly check on matters, even when I’m on holiday. However, I’ve truly discovered that less is more. It doesn’t matter how many hours you’re working, but what you accomplish when you’re actually working. It still amazes me that fact that working to achieve goals is not universally implemented, rather than warming the chair from 9 to 5.
Don’t let life pass you by without doing the things you enjoy. Spending time with your friends and family is paramount. Making memories, traveling, enjoying life – in the end, I’m sure these are the things that will remain.
And now, back to the beginning or back to business. This is the start of the working year: September! The Christmas of IT Recruitment. That time of the year when people return to work and realize that things haven’t magically changed during their absence (oh, surprise!)
It’s time to weigh things and make decisions. My advice here involves considering the old strategy versus tactics. It’s tempting to take the easiest way out when you’re trying to escape from a far-from-ideal situation. But be smart about it. Take steps that will bring you closer to your ultimate career goal, whatever that may be. An extra 5K€ won’t significantly change your life if you end up in the same place, just with a different color.
At NBS IT Recruitment, we’ve spent many hours talking to people about their dreams and aspirations. We know our clients well – we always aim to establish long-term relationships – so it’s easier for us to see from a neutral perspective whether things will work out or not. Our crystal ball will tell. No, seriously, many variables are at play, but when you’ve seen the same movie many times, you know how it will develop.
Furthermore, we take great pride in not being mere role-fillers. We’re here for the long run, and we firmly believe that building trust with our stakeholders is not just the best way, but the only way, to stay in business.
So, if you’re reading this, thank you (it was a long one). It probably means that you’re considering your next step in your career. Don’t be shy – get in touch with us to see what opportunities we might have in store for you.
We wish everyone a smooth return and a mild post-vacation syndrome.
