Understanding Stresslaxing and Its Impact on Mexican Workers
Stresslaxing, or leisure-related stress, is a product of a lifestyle that demands constant activity or productivity, causing individuals to view rest as a waste of time. If you’ve felt guilty for relaxing during your vacation or constantly felt the need to resume work tasks, you might be experiencing stresslaxing.
While it may seem counterintuitive, many Mexicans struggle with disconnecting from work, even after a reform granted them more vacation days. This issue stems from self-imposed pressures, labor expectations, and cultural norms that make it difficult for employees to fully unwind during their time off.
Mexican Vacation Patterns and Work Pressures
According to the “Work in Progress 2024” survey by Buk, both Generation X and Millennials take an average of 4.1 vacation days per year, while Baby Boomers and Centennials take 3.9 days annually.
However, these few days are often spent addressing work-related matters. Eighty-four percent of respondents check and respond to work messages via WhatsApp or phone calls during their time off, with 45% monitoring their emails and 29% responding to them.
Valeria Vázquez, responsible for the Buk survey, notes that the difficulty in disconnecting from work is closely tied to a labor culture that normalizes constant availability, a practice still prevalent in many Mexican organizations. This dynamic directly affects employees’ well-being, leading to higher levels of exhaustion, stress, and burnout.
The Importance of Rest for Mental and Physical Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that insufficient vacation time and lack of labor disconnection increase stress, reduce productivity, and elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The Buk study reveals that those taking 5 days or fewer vacations report 63% frequent work-related stress, whereas those enjoying 16 days or more see this percentage drop to 29%.
Moreover, job satisfaction increases by 29 points (from 57% to 86%) among employees with extended vacations.
Disconnection is crucial not just for physical rejuvenation but also for mental relief from work-related tasks, meetings, and messages. This break can lead to improved productivity upon returning to work.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is stresslaxing? Stresslaxing, or leisure-related stress, is the guilt or constant need to engage in work tasks during vacation time due to a lifestyle that views rest as unproductive.
- Why do Mexican workers struggle with vacation disconnection? This issue arises from self-imposed pressures, labor expectations, and cultural norms that make it difficult for employees to fully unwind during their time off.
- How many vacation days do Mexican workers typically take? According to the “Work in Progress 2024” survey by Buk, Generation X and Millennials take an average of 4.1 days per year, while Baby Boomers and Centennials take 3.9 days annually.
- How do Mexican workers spend their vacation days? Despite having fewer vacation days, Mexican workers often spend their time off addressing work-related matters via phone calls, emails, and messages.
- What are the consequences of insufficient vacation time? Insufficient vacation time can lead to increased stress, reduced productivity, and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, as per the WHO.
- How does job satisfaction relate to vacation days? Job satisfaction increases by 29 points when employees take extended vacations, according to the Buk study.
