Lessons from Vacation #8: Enjoy time away
This past week I went on a “working vacation”. I’ve never heard that term before I mentioned it to my boss and it seemed like he was as confused by the term as I was actually saying it. I think I called it a “working vacation” took time off because 2 of my daughters had a tournament and competition in the same location during the same week. So, I took vacation time away as I would be watching a lot of softball and dances. I wouldn’t be working.
However, since it wasn’t a “true” vacation where we could just have fun and just relax, I told my boss before I left that I would be working a little while out of town so don’t worry about sending me an email or calling me. This is what he was confused about. He said, “why would you do this? If you are taking vacation time with your family, enjoy that time with them. Don’t work, unless you didn’t prepare enough for your time away and thus you aren’t covered on things.”
What?!? Don’t feel obligated to work while out of town? What kind of boss is he?!? Better yet, what kind of person was I that I felt that I needed to take work with me, that I couldn’t be without my work for a few days while I hung out with my children and watched them perform at things they love?
This quick conversation was a great reminder for me to use my vacation and enjoy the time away. Whether or not I think it is a “true” vacation away, it is still time away from the office with my family and I need to just enjoy that time away. Feel the freedom to sleep in a little longer, go somewhere without taking my phone with me, enjoy conversations with people that I wouldn’t normally get to converse with.
In the same way that I was challenged by my boss, I want to encourage you, enjoy your vacation time away. Don’t think about work or even bring work along with you. I know that can be hard sometimes, but as I’ve mentioned this before, vacation is so much more than just about you. It is about your family as well.
So whether it is next week, next month or next year be intentional about your time away. Enjoy it and relax a little.
What do you do to enjoy the time away when you go on vacation? Share below or use Twitter to share by using @tapounder when you tweet.
