Vacation Time Required
Do you really check out fully over the weekend and just relax? Or…are you running errands, juggling family activities, catching up on email, and prepping for next week?
Many of us never really slow down on the weekends which is where vacation comes in. We need that downtime. Staycations are great but they’re not enough. Often we find ourselves still working through our normal patterns so I still think you need vacations where you are not staying in your home.
Why do we need to take vacations?
A change of location gives us a new perspective because we’re living and exploring somewhere else. What did we learn that we want to bring forward into our normal routines.
A change of pattern lets us test out what is working or what’s not. What do we want to change when we return home?
A change, particularly with some downtime vs. back-to-back activities allows our brain to wander and make connections. What creative ideas come up?
Being away from our normal schedules allows us to test new habits – sleep, eating, exercising. How do changes in those make you feel each day?
Being away from work allows others to step up. What did you learn that you didn’t need to provide as much oversight for?
Being away from work allows perspective on what’s been happening and if there are other ways to think about business problems. What’s coming that you need to prepare for?
This sounds like I’m making a work effort out of vacation time, but it’s what will happen naturally. You just need to pause during the time away and notice – how you are feeling and what you’re learning about yourself and your patterns. Before you head home, jot yourself some notes of what your key takeaways were so you don’t lose them as you jump back into day-to-day living.
Many of us went longer than we traditionally do without a vacation break. If you haven’t scheduled it yet, it’s probably time to put something on the calendar. Even if that vacation is still in the future, having something to look forward to is energizing. Vacations don’t have to involve long travel or cost a lot of money. Find something that works with your budget and timelines that will allow you to take a break.
Our bodies and brains need regular breaks to stay healthy and work at their optimal levels. When we don’t rest, we are eventually forced to slow down against our will. Wouldn’t you rather proactively take the time away to reenergize?
Is it time to plan that vacation?
I know I’m ready for one. Let's go get that break we need.