“With the train from France,
Come, children, let’s play,
The books on the fire…”
This is how a song from my childhood goes. Summer vacation was the climax of our journey through the school year. Summer meant “hanging up the books,” at least the mandatory ones. It didn’t mean we stopped reading, but we read what we wanted, when we wanted. We no longer had to solve dozens of math problems from week to week, nor study physics, take tests, or write essays. Summer arrived—the season of freedom, of endless days, of play, the absence of rules, of trips to the countryside (where grandparents were usually more lenient than parents), and those 2-3 weeks by the sea, where we baked in the sun (perhaps the sun wasn’t as harsh, or maybe people weren’t as health-conscious, or perhaps, as children, we just didn’t care about such concerns).
We eagerly awaited those weeks by the sea, the time spent at our grandparents’ in the countryside—these were the heights of a carefree life, the peaks of indulgence, the freedom that we could afford back then.
During the school year, I studied hard. I remember going to high school at 6 a.m., where our math teacher would teach us by candlelight to prepare for the baccalaureate. She had a strong sense of duty and instilled that in us. Thanks to her, I scored high in math on my exams, even though it wasn’t my favorite subject. Private tutoring wasn’t popular, or maybe I just didn’t know about it. We worked hard all year long, dreaming of summer and the books we’d get our hands on “under the table,” devouring them day and night without the worry of waking up early for classes. It was the same in college—I studied intensely, but in summer, it felt like the whole world belonged to me. My summer vacations smelled of hot sand, tasted of salty sunburned skin, juicy peaches, books, libraries, small or grand adventures, real or imagined, and mental journeys to places I had only seen in magazines.
We also eagerly awaited two other periods: Christmas and Easter vacations. This triad—Christmas, Easter, and summer vacations—formed the rhythm of our school year. Our mental energy and motivation revolved around them.
It’s Not the Same for Everyone
We all have personal memories of our vacations as students. Perhaps this is why the association of summer with vacation and freedom remains deeply ingrained in us.
These days, starting in June, most conversations turn to vacation plans. Many people leave for a month, some travel as far away as possible, eager to escape daily life and explore new territories. And that’s great. Traveling, stepping away from the everyday grind, helps recharge our batteries, gain new perspectives, identify opportunities, and boost creativity. However, not everyone can take time off in summer. In certain industries, summer is the peak season, and people can only escape for short periods—a few days or extended weekends. If you work in sales, ice cream production, beer, prosecco, or hospitality, you might feel some frustration. Some accept that their job comes with limitations, while others rebel against it.
Moreover, in some Latin countries, work schedules consider the need for rest. Some time ago, in France, between Bordeaux and La Rochelle, people would close for lunch and siesta. Perhaps adopting such a schedule to cope with the heat would be appreciated by some.
On the other hand, there’s pressure for the “perfect vacation.” After all, you work hard all year to have a great holiday; you go to exotic destinations, but sometimes you end up arguing with your partner or family, or the place isn’t as perfect as in the pictures. And no matter what, you don’t seem to measure up to social media influencers. It often seems like others have better, more special, more luxurious, more successful vacations. You might say that no one compares themselves to influencers. Not outwardly, but if you’re in your 20s or 30s, you might want vacations like those you see online—more money, more freedom, more parties in exotic locations.
What Can Employers Do?
Here are some ideas for actions that companies and managers can take to maintain a reasonable level of motivation during summer:
- Allow employees some time to think and work on long-term projects that are important but not urgent. Often, we’re like hamsters on a wheel, hyperactive but not feeling progress. It’s crucial to allocate time for bigger projects that provide energy, enthusiasm, and daily motivation.
- Avoid filling others’ calendars with meetings. This is a common complaint: people’s calendars get filled with meetings. You can’t expect someone to be productive if they’re always in meetings. We need time to reflect, learn, and plan.
- Promote a culture of honesty where employees feel comfortable expressing their needs. When managers expect honesty and communicate this expectation, the chances of it happening increase. Many prefer to hide the truth, but at least you’ll know you’ve done your part.
- Focus on delivering results on time rather than how long someone spends in the office or on Teams.
What Can Employees Do?
Let’s also look at what employees can do. There’s a concept called “quiet vacationing,” meaning some people take an unofficial break, becoming unresponsive to emails or messages. This behavior can erode trust.
If we want trust, it’s essential to offer trust, to treat each other with respect and decency. Most managers prefer when an employee communicates the need for time off, rather than being faced with an unpleasant situation where the employee is unresponsive.
Austrian philosopher Karl Popper said that each generation has the task of redefining the meaning of history. In this spirit, perhaps we should allow the new generation to define the meaning of work and explore ways to integrate their perspective. It’s not about forcing one generation to adapt to another but finding a modus vivendi that suits everyone.
Imagine hedgehogs trying to live together. When they get close, they’ll prick and hurt each other. But as they distance themselves and slowly come closer, they eventually find a way to enjoy each other’s presence without causing pain.”
via: Forbes
