The Sunday Mail
Taurai Changwa
Business Forum
As the year comes to a close, it is fair to say it was quite challenging for industry and commerce.
However, the unexpected inauguration of a new chief executive for the country – President Emmerson Mnangagwa – has renewed both hope and expectation to right the wrongs that have been affecting the local economy.
The continued emphasis by the new administration to grow the economy is quite refreshing.
It, however, won’t be easy.
A lot of challenges still continue to affect industry, especially with the rise of multi-tier pricing systems, unrestrained price hikes and a thriving parallel market for the local currency.
Clearly, there is a lot to take in for business executives as they brace for the New Year.
A lot has to be done to reconfigure businesses and the economy for growth.
While many bureacrats in the new Government will not have sufficient time to rest, as they rush to meet their 100-day targets, priming oneself for Herculean tasks often necessarily involves rest and restoration.
Rest is a critical ingredient to recharging one’s batteries.
It is very important to rest the brain that works.
Experts often say mental fatigue can be every bit as detrimental as physical fatigue, and taking a rest day helps to recharge the psyche.
Working continuously often results in both mental and physical exhaustion, and beyond this threshold, one ceases to be productive.
In fact, the more exertion that comes after exhaustion is counter-productive.
The body and the mind are intrinsically connected.
While admittedly it is no longer business as usual, and there is a lot of work that lies ahead, 2017 was equally hectic and enervating – a little rest won’t hurt anyone, particularly this festive season.
Taking time off and unwinding might arguably be therapeutic.
Human beings are not machines, they need rest.
Even machines are sometimes rested in order to ensure that they do not develop faults.
Stress, exhaustion and overworking can kill.
In July 2013, Miwa Sado, a worker at Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, died from heart failure after she logged more than 159 hours of overtime.
This phenomenon is described in Japan as karoshi (death from overwork).
Reports suggest that in its first white paper on karoshi in 2016, the Japanese government – which is now under pressure to address this anomaly in work-life balance – claims that one in five employees were at risk of death from overwork.
Other conditions that were attributed to overwork were heart attacks and strokes.
The Asian country is now considering proposals to cap the monthly overtime at 100 hours and to introduce penalties for employees who exceed this limit.
Most interestingly, there hasn’t been any research that has established a positive correlation between overwork and productivity.
But, conversely, it has since been established that stress kills and overworking is not good for health.
So, as human beings we can only do so much.
Unfortunately, we are all wired into believing that hard work takes precedence over everything else.
Taking time off is often frowned upon as unproductive.
Sometimes personal health is sacrificed, especially at times when huge responsibilities lie ahead.
According to Psychology Today, a United States magazine, lack of rest can prevent someone from displaying positive traits.
Often, the body is unable to take in the events of the day and the brain will have a hard time organising the same events into data for future reference.
It is believed that although an overworked brain may not literally break down like an overworked body, it too functions better with rest and recovery.
A study from the University of York and the University of Florida discovered that despite spending the vast majority of our waking hours in effortful thought, more than 40 percent of our creative ideas come during breaks, when we allow our minds to wander or turn off altogether.
Sacrificing your sleep is hardly something you can be proud of.
It will eventually take a toll on productivity.
In the early 2000s, then-groundbreaking research out of Harvard University found that it is during sleep that you retain, consolidate, store, and connect information.
It concluded that the mind doesn’t grow and make leaps when you are at work, but rather when you are at rest.
This is precisely the reason why some of the world’s best musicians, athletes, artists, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs tend to consider rest an essential part of their jobs.
To them, rest is restorative and curative.
But resting should not be considered synonymous with slouching.
Evidently, slouching is unproductive.
As Zimbabweans gear themselves to revive the economy, it is worth noting that they do not need to work hard, but to work smart.
An internationally renowned curriculum developer, Jenna Kressler, claims that the benefits of taking time off includes reduced stress, improved focus, heart health, happiness and improved sleep:
Conclusion
With all these benefits, taking vacation time really makes sense. Now that holidays are here, this may be the perfect time for everyone to take some vacation time.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Taurai Changwa is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe, Certified Tax Accountant and an Estate Administrator. He has vast experience on tax, accounting, audit and corporate governance issues. He is a director of Umar & Tach Advisory. He writes in his personal capacity and can be contacted at [email protected] or whatsapp on 0772374784.
Reduced stress
Vacationing and taking breaks from work reduces the stress felt by workers on the job.
Improved focus
Stress impacts focus, so stress-relieving vacations can help return focus through a reduction in stress.
Heart health
Vacations reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and lower blood pressure.
Happiness
Vacations make people happy, and as the saying goes, happy workers are productive workers!
Improved sleep
Rested workers are more focused and productive. They have more energy at work. Vacations improve overall sleep quality.
Work-life balance improves
Vacations improve work-life balance, as you give this time to your family or yourself, rather than to your employer. This is perhaps the most important benefit offered by using vacation time.
Increased productivity
Although it seems counter-intuitive, workers who use their vacation time are more productive and return from vacations more creative and with better ideas.
Conclusion
With all these benefits, taking vacation time really makes sense. Now that holidays are here, this may be the perfect time for everyone to take some vacation time.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Taurai Changwa is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe, Certified Tax Accountant and an Estate Administrator. He has vast experience on tax, accounting, audit and corporate governance issues. He is a director of Umar & Tach Advisory. He writes in his personal capacity and can be contacted at [email protected] or whatsapp on 0772374784.
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