Why Balance?
Perspectives
What's The Plus?
Investing in balance and restoring a rhythm of renewal to life and work pay big dividends for individuals and organizations. Here's what the research has to say.
Time away boosts effectiveness.
- 94% of employees feel time away from work makes them better employees. 70% feel it makes them a lot more productive. World Within 2002
- Time off for good performance is successful in increasing productivity. Nordstrom 1988
- Time away from career may help advance it by increasing creativity and productivity. Gutner 2001
Moderate sleep and regular vacations extend life.
- In a study of sleep habits of one million people over six years, mortality rates were lowest in those who slept 7-8 hours a night, and higher in those sleeping less than 4 and more than 10 hours a night. Kripke Study
- In an American study of 12,000 middle aged men at risk for coronary disease, those who take annual vacations are nearly 20% less likely to die during the ensuing nine years than those who skip holidays. Gump and Matthews 2000
- A 20 year study of 749 women aged 45-64 and found that for both employed women and homemakers, tension and a lack of vacations were two key predictors of heart attack. Eaker, Pinsky and Castelli 1992
Wellness and renewal investments pay big dividends.
- 60% of employers believe time off attracts new employees, and nearly as many think it improves retention. Sabatie 2001
- Toronto city employees who took part in 'Metro Fitness' programs missed three fewer workdays in the first six months of the program than those who sat on the sidelines. Toronto Life Assurance employee turnover for those in the company's fitness program was 1.5% compared to 15% for the corporate couch potatoes. Government of Ontario 2001
- Each corporate dollar invested in wellness initiatives returns $3.40. The returns show up in reduced staff turnover, productivity gains, and a drop in medical claims. Canada Life
Relaxation breaks reduce strain and increase stamina.
- Informal breaks cut down on mental strain and increase feelings of wellbeing. Productivity is either maintained or increased after the introduction of micro breaks. Meijer, Sluiter & Frings-Dresen. 2001
- Relaxation therapies increase job satisfaction and job performance. Stein 2001
- Relaxation techniques have a significant positive effect on complaints, psychological resources, and perceived quality of work life. Van Der Klink 2001
- Employees receiving two 15 minute massages per week showed increases in speed and accuracy of brain functions. Spinks 2002
Naps enhance productivity.
- 20 to 30 minute naps every 4 hours help workers maintain high levels of alertness and productivity. Stampi Study
- Fatigue in those who perform repetitive tasks that are visually and mentally draining can be offset by napping. Hour long nappers improve their performance throughout the day. The performance of the half hour mid-day nappers stays constant. The performance of the 'no nap' group deteriorates significantly by the end of the day. Harvard Researchers
Sabbaticals build loyalty
- Offering sabbaticals to managers can increase retention and employee longevity, decrease stress, allow managers to gain perspective. Southard 1999
- Sabbaticals are being used as recruitment and retention tools, and as a way to increase productivity. Schurr 2001
- Sabbaticals are a good return on investment since they refresh employees, make them more creative, help avoid burnout, and enhance long-term retention and productivity. Vincola 1999
Connect the dots. Relaxation breaks reduce strain and increase stamina ... naps enhance productivity ... time away boosts effectiveness ... moderate sleep and regular vacations extend life... wellness and renewal investments pay big dividends ... sabbaticals build loyalty. Now those are pluses for everyone!
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