Let's face it: vacation is not everyone's cup of tea, especially for those Type-A personalities that are always checking items off "To-Do" lists (ahem, ME).
I recently I headed out of town for a week in the midst of an extremely busy spring schedule. If you work in PR and Marketing, you probably have a pretty good idea of the type of fast paced environment I was leaving (and shouldn't have been). I made myself sick with worry, finished as many projects as humanly possible, and then set my out of office message. Done deal - I was going, like it or not!
My boss told me not to check my email while away; my boyfriend told me I needed to have fun and "chill"; but my mind told me to stay on top of my game. How could I possibly do all three things, simultaneously, and still relax? I think I found a way. Instead of forcing myself to read only Glamour magazines and sit on the beach for hours on end bored out of my mind, I found small ways to "creatively" work and I discovered some new joys to my job and my outlook on life. I'd like to share a few...
- Enjoy making valuable connections, while relaxing by the pool. You never know who you are sitting next to and what insight they might have into your industry. Who knows- this type of networking could even lead to your next job, someday.
- Remove yourself from "Work Mode." My boss was right. Turn off your blackberry and put away your laptop. The whole point of vacation is to change your routine and do things differently. If you are checking your iPhone every three minutes for missed emails, that's not any different than sitting at your desk on a normal work day.
- Let nature inspire you. Wherever you are (Grand Canyon, British Virgin Islands, Paris), take in the view. Sit back, drink a cup of tea, and notice the world around you: the little things that you don't get to appreciate when in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life back home. Hear the sound of birds singing, breath in the fresh smell of clean laundry, or feel the smooth surface of a cold stone step under your bare feet. These are the things that make life seem luxurious - no matter where you are.
- Finally, take a quick peek at the fruits of your labor. Don't cheat and go back to sending work emails, but instead acknowledge the hard work that you have put into every aspect of your job. Pat yourself on the back, knowing that appreciating yourself will help ensure that this vacation is truly restful. You will return to the office with a whole new energy and drive!
Email thoughts/comments to Catherine at camorous@gmail.com.
