During my first year at office, everything went well until the month of May. Then, on a Monday morning, I questioned myself: `Would I have summer holidays?'. Alas, I wouldn't. Do that mean, I would have no summer holidays at office for the coming twenty years or so? By the way, in my view, summer holidays at office are two-to-three weeks of holidays - say to visit places, join hobby club, practice yoga courses, watch movies, day-dream ... any thing just for relaxation.
At school, I never waited for summer holidays. Everything was almost scheduled, and I had nothing but to follow that. To add, along with the holidays after annual exams, we had lots of holidays in between: after quarterly, and half-yearly exams. So I never longed for one. But, both at college and university, it was different. At college, we had semesters: hectic course work during semesters, and very little semester-break holidays. As I look back, somehow, I even never waited for more holidays. Perhaps, I was enjoying college in my style. Then at university, first semester was tough, and remaining semesters were challenging. As in many others' work, even my thesis work never had results at the first hit. Always challenging, and annoying ... still I never looked for a long break. At all the three above stages, I always had the relaxation even during the hectic sessions.
Why summer holidays at office?: because I am missing the time to just relax, have fun and recharge. Many of my friends working for different employers complain the same, still none take a mid-year/ summer break - a break for the purpose of relaxation only! Is it because we do not have adequate holidays? Err ... we do have a pack of holidays credited ever year. But most of us are relocated far from parents and travel home for all important festivals. This constitute the major chunk of the holidays. And the remaining we save under contingency leaves. So, what we need is additional (not many) holidays, planning of projects and a culture to take mid-year break.
It's both possible and necessary to have long mid-year breaks. It's being practiced in many other countries. It's we who have to adopt and adapt to this culture and, I hope, in not-so-far time, companies would also encourage mid-year breaks.
At school, I never waited for summer holidays. Everything was almost scheduled, and I had nothing but to follow that. To add, along with the holidays after annual exams, we had lots of holidays in between: after quarterly, and half-yearly exams. So I never longed for one. But, both at college and university, it was different. At college, we had semesters: hectic course work during semesters, and very little semester-break holidays. As I look back, somehow, I even never waited for more holidays. Perhaps, I was enjoying college in my style. Then at university, first semester was tough, and remaining semesters were challenging. As in many others' work, even my thesis work never had results at the first hit. Always challenging, and annoying ... still I never looked for a long break. At all the three above stages, I always had the relaxation even during the hectic sessions.
Why summer holidays at office?: because I am missing the time to just relax, have fun and recharge. Many of my friends working for different employers complain the same, still none take a mid-year/ summer break - a break for the purpose of relaxation only! Is it because we do not have adequate holidays? Err ... we do have a pack of holidays credited ever year. But most of us are relocated far from parents and travel home for all important festivals. This constitute the major chunk of the holidays. And the remaining we save under contingency leaves. So, what we need is additional (not many) holidays, planning of projects and a culture to take mid-year break.
It's both possible and necessary to have long mid-year breaks. It's being practiced in many other countries. It's we who have to adopt and adapt to this culture and, I hope, in not-so-far time, companies would also encourage mid-year breaks.
