Dolce vita: a four-step guide to stress-free holidays from academia
Briefly

The article discusses the detrimental norm of long working days in the scientific community, highlighted by a survey indicating many postdoctoral scholars routinely exceed their work hours. The author reflects on their upbringing in Italy, which emphasized the importance of holidays, and contrasts this with the guilt they initially felt about taking breaks in their academic career. They propose four actionable steps for students and scientists to prioritize stress-free holidays, advocating for the necessity of breaks for enhanced productivity and creativity.
"Taking time off is not a luxury, but a necessity for one’s well-being and productivity. It is crucial for scientific research and education to recognize this instead of glorifying overworking."
"Reflecting on the guilt associated with taking holidays has been transformative. A proper break has been shown to replenish creativity and enhance overall performance."
Read at Nature
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