The effects of a Sweet Spot Experience

Going abroad with Sweet Spot means living abroad for a month, while working on your professional and personal goals – and maintaining your current, daily work routine!Anna van Beuningen from Radboud University Nijmegen researched the effects of a Sweet Spot Experience and found positive benefits on the work-life balance of the participants. Continue reading for the most striking results..Anna van Beuningen from Radboud University Nijmegen researched the effects of a Sweet Spot Experience and found positive benefits on the work-life balance of the participants.  

Improvement of work-life balance

‍The key take-away of the findings is the overall improvement of participants’ work-life balance. There are three main positive changes in behavior and overall well being that  participants experienced.

‍1:  More energy after a day of workParticipants explain that they are better able to disconnect from their work during their free time, which results in them feeling recharged, more focused, and more engaged during working hours. This helps them achieve a better work-life balance, which in turn has a positive impact on their overall well-being.‘"Participants explain that they are better able to disconnect from their work during their free time."

2: Undertaking more after-work activitiesAnd what to do with all this leftover energy?! Participants report being involved in way more activities after work than they did before!  None of our participants went home after work to sit on the couch during their time abroad. All those hikes, swims, breathwork sessions, and other amazing activities that we did before and after work helped to change their behavior. One of Sweet Spot’s guiding principles is that the change of context from home to abroad is likely to facilitate the development of new habits and behaviors. The two reinforce each other: undertaking these activities helps to recharge and unload which results in a more productive work day – win-win! So, after returning home, continuing to enjoy more activities outside of work, participants prolong the positive effects experienced during the Sweet Spot Experience."One of Sweet Spot’s guiding principles is that the change of context from home to abroad is likely to facilitate the development of new habits and behaviors."‍

‍3: Broadened professional network and became part of multidisciplinary community
‍Participants in the Sweet Spot Experience found that the multi-disciplinary community they were a part of helped them build important professional relationships. Being outside of their usual office environment gave them the opportunity to learn from each other, with everyone bringing a different skill-set and background to the table. The participants attended training and development courses, as well as other events related to their personal and professional development, working together towards their goals.Participants in the Sweet Spot Experience found that the multi-disciplinary community they were a part of helped them build important professional relationships. By immersing themselves in a multidisciplinary community, they learn from those bringing a different skill-set and background to the table.The benefits of this multi-disciplinary community extended beyond the Sweet Spot Experience itself, as participants reported to meet up frequently with each other after returning back home."Being out of your own office environment gives you the opportunity to learn from each other."In partnership with Anna van Beuningen from Radboud University Nijmegen
‍This blog has been produced in partnership with Anna van Beuningen and Radboud University Nijmegen. Questions about the different options for a Remote Development Experience through Sweet Spot Abroad? Contact us here!