september 2010 NEWSLETTER

Sorry for the delay in getting this month's newsletter to you but I've just returned from a two-week vacation, celebrating the arrival of my first grandchild. Many of you will be surprised to learn that in my 31 years in recruiting (yes I started when I was 6), I don't think I've ever taken two contiguous weeks off with such extremely limited access to voice and emails. This prompted me to share with you some research that's been done on the value of vacations!

- Vacations promote creativity - we reconnect with ourselves and help us to get back to feeling our best.

- Vacations stave off burnout - taking time off to relax makes you more creative and productive.

- Vacations can keep us healthy - "recharging your batteries" keeps your stress levels lower.

- Vacations promote overall wellbeing - one study found that three days after vacation, subjects' physical complaints, their quality of sleep and mood had improved as compared to before vacation. These gains were still present five weeks later!

- Vacations can strengthen bonds - spending time enjoying life with loved ones can keep relationships strong and help you through the stress of hard times.

- Vacations can help with job performance - they benefits that come with vacations lead to increased quality of life, which in turn leads to increased quality of work on the job.

- Vacations relieve stress in lasting ways - a good vacation can lead to the experience of fewer stressful days at least five weeks later!

All of this means that vacations are the gift you give to yourself that keep on giving! So if you haven't already taken time off this year, be sure to plan the break you need so that you can return to your life refreshed and better equipped to handle whatever comes your way!