It seems with each passing year, summer is shorter and Labor Day arrives earlier. So, unbelievably again this year, summer is already ending and Labor Day has arrived. But like many American holidays, do many of us stop to think about what Labor Day is really about? What might it mean to mark this day of annual celebration of workers and their achievements?
If you are an educator, you have likely accomplished quite a lot in recent weeks. You may have already thought about every corner of the space that is to be the learning environment you will share with students this year; you have memorized the names of 25, 50, 150 or more, learners and made sure that all those students arrived to school and returned home safely; you have connected with parents of all of those students; you have welcomed and possibly mentored new colleagues; you have eased the nerves of students unsure of new environments or new experiences ensuring they have a great start; you have likely shared an infectious enthusiasm for learning that sparks motivation in those around you and so much more.
So after all of this, what is the best way to spend the Monday?
Take a break. Pause.
Easier said than done for many of us. When we care deeply about what we do, it can be hard to pull away or unplug. In fact, research from the U.S. Travel Association’s Project: Time Off initiative has revealed that Americans are using less vacation time today compared to any point in the last 40 years.
But we should.
Shawn Achor is one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and success with a TED talk that is one of the most popular of all time. Achor shares research in his recent book which indicates workers’ performance significantly increases with time off. In fact, in The Happiness Advantage, Achor reports that productivity improves by 31 percent, and creativity can triple as a result of time away from work.
Want to be at your best on Tuesday back at school? Enjoy Monday away from school.
Happy Labor Day!
