Managing work and fitting in holidays around your professional life
Every year thousands of Aussies and Kiwis choose to come and work in the UK, and with the UK and New Zealand expanding work abroad schemes we’re sure even more of you will be choosing to spend time working, living and exploring here. But when you do, how can you make sure you have time to cross off your bucket list whilst working to help pay the London rent?
There are plenty of beautiful locations and attractions that make the UK so special and London makes the perfect base to explore popular and hidden, destinations across Europe too. Thankfully the UK has a generous holiday allowance. Both full and part time workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks paid annual leave as a minimum, with many employers offering more than this If you’re full-time this works out to 28 days including bank holidays and part-time workers have their allowance calculated based on the number of days they work.
Why taking holidays is important for your wellbeing and professional development!
London can be a competitive job market but making sure you take your holidays isn’t just good for your work-life balance and mental health, it can also good for your professional life too.
- With proper breaks we become more productive and creative employees!
- Taking your holiday reduces stress and the negative effects it can have on your health.
- Broadening your horizons also broadens your perspective helping you become a more adaptable, accepting and open-minded person who is better equipped to succeed into today’s diverse and globalised working world.
- Holidays can be a chance to develop soft skills such as communication and time management. Getting out of your comfort zone can make you more resilient and dealing with unexpected challenges and new situations can also improve your problem-solving skills.
- You can also learn more practical skills on holiday. Planning your trips can help you develop budgeting, organisation, and financial management skills. You might even a pickup a new language!
5 tips to find a better work-life balance and fit travel around your job
Achieving a harmonious work-life balance while incorporating travel into your professional routine can be a daunting task. Follow these tips and strategies to assist you in finding that elusive equilibrium:
1. Understand your holiday entitlement
The first step to stress free exploration is to understand your holiday entitlement. Both full and part-time workers in the UK are entitled to 5.6 weeks of vacation, inclusive of bank holidays. But for part time workers your allowance will be calculated against the days you work. For shift workers and temp workers, the rules can be different. So, it’s important to understand your contract. Make sure you read your employee handbook which will also let you know how you book your time off. If you find your role through Australasian Recruitment Company, our consultants will be able to guide you through the process.
Once you know how many days of holiday you have for the year you can work out how to book it for maximum impact! If you book days off around bank holidays you could increase the number of days off you have substantially. There are lots of online calendars to help you work this out.
2. Explore on your doorstep
While it can be tempting to spend all your holiday time exploring Europe as it’s so close, don’t forget that the UK has some incredible scenery and attractions, many of which can be reached from London in just a few hours. By planning day trips or weekend breaks you fit in plenty of travel without the need for costly flights.
3. Take short trips
Rather than trying to fit everything into one big chunk of time off, split your travel time into smaller trips. City breaks are a convenient way to explore new countries and soak up the atmosphere without rushing. Best of all they can easily be slotted into a weekend away. Travelling like this is much less stressful than organising a big trip and by spreading them out through the year you avoid feeling burnt out.
4. Be prepared
By preparing a few things in advance you can make travelling a less stressful experience and be ready to go at the drop of a hat! Having a weekend go-bag with city break essentials already packed means you can take advantage of cheap deals or spontaneous trips. It’s also important to know when prices are more expensive, particularly around school holidays. This helps keep costs down and help you avoid the crowds.
5. Avoid travel burnout
Travel can be stressful. Busy airports, seeing the sights, packing and unpacking can all feel like chores. Especially if you are also holding down a full-time job. That’s why its extra important that you balance travelling with more mindful holiday time. Make sure you have plenty of weekends where you relax and take time for yourself. The beauty of London is that sometimes just going to the park with friends or reading in a beer garden with a pint is enough!
Make the most of your time in the UK with Australasian Recruitment Company!
Make sure you get the most out of your time working in the UK with our help. At Australasian Recruitment Company we have an overview of the whole London market, so we know the companies that are hiring and the opportunities available. Whether you are looking for an in-office or hybrid role we can help you connect with employers and find the perfect job for you.
Explore our current vacancies or send us your CV!