Work & Money 

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Holidaying without your laptop

Going on holiday is the best part of the year, isn't it? After working hard for months, you can finally escape to a holiday paradise. But according to a survey by recruitment agency Office Angels, 86 per cent of people get bored on holiday or don't know how to relax. A bizarre thought, but it's a common problem and it's known as SOW...

What is SOW?

SOW is Summer Office Withdrawal Syndrome or, in other words, the inability to take a break and forget about work. Instead, you find your thoughts creeping towards your in-tray, meetings you might miss and ruthless co-workers using your absence to get 'in' with the boss. In their survey of 1,500 office workers, Office Angels concluded that the prospect of so much free time is a challenge to many people:

• Over 50 per cent admit it takes them three to four days to unwind, even on a one-week holiday
• 25 per cent use their mobile phone to access their work voicemail
• 68 per cent find it difficult to manage so much unstructured time
• 62 per cent worry about lack of things to do
• 45 per cent admit they miss the 'buzz and banter' of office life
• 40 per cent stress about not getting a good spot by the pool
• 10 per cent fret about sleeping in and missing the inclusive breakfast

You might think SOW only affects high-flyers (and yes, they are more susceptible), but anyone in a pressured job is at risk. Not having free time in your daily routine can make you thrive on 'action' instead. Occupational psychologist, Peter Gerstmann says: "There's nothing unusual about taking a few days to unwind, especially if the individual has been busy, or is preoccupied with work thoughts. But if possible, people should go away for two weeks once a year. One week is fine for a 'holiday top-up' but as a main break from work, it's not enough."

Why is SOW so common?

The presence of SOW is hardly surprising. Work culture is defined by 'presenteeism' - taking a genuine sick day can be frowned upon. Many employees think they are too busy to go away. According to the Office Angels survey, employees are taking less holiday and shorter lunch breaks because they're scared that time off will affect their career prospects. Workers feel that they should work long hours in order to 'deserve' their annual leave. The current climate of 'downsizing', 'cost cutting' and 'increasing efficiency' only reinforces this impression.

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