Today is my first day back in the office after an invigorating, rejuvenating vacation.
At the end of any vacation, I find it hard to believe the time has already passed us by. I usually find myself reluctantly coming back to reality and already starting to daydream about the next getaway.
I also find myself grateful for another annual getaway. There’s something different about this family beach vacation, something we don’t always have in other trips.
Taking time off is hard. It is really hard for me to unplug and not work. As a first-voice Creative, my mind is always spinning with ideas.
Yet when I intentionally shift gears into being present with my inner circle, I don’t just accomplish the goal – I experience renewal.
Did you know American workers took 1.8 billion trips around the US last year, but still left 768,000,000 vacation days on the table?
Whether you’re scouting Scott’s Cheap Flights for great fares or planning your free Disney getaway, travel is a hot topic of conversation.
And yet we’re still missing it.
Our vacation last week was not a five-star, all inclusive, luxury experience (the house was very nice). We weren’t sitting on the oceanfront (we could see it), and we didn’t eat fancy meals every night (we did have good food).
Here is what we have come to value about this experience year after year:
- Being with family – our family of four, and being together with extended family
- Find peaceful solitude – slow routines, fun playing in the pool and in the waves, and long walks
- Enjoy being together – the simple things, late night chats on the porch, under the stars
When we think about a vacation, we usually think about the next big, great excursion. We have big plans and lofty goals to make it Instagram-worthy.
The next time a vacation comes around, be intentional about how you plan it, what you do, and how you shift gears from productivity to presence.
And the same rhythms and rejuvenation we can find from a trip, we can also find in our daily routine.
So whether your next day off is the upcoming long weekend, or a “personal health day,” make your time matter most with your inner circle – the people you care for most.
Be present with them.
Your productivity can wait. And it might just be better for it when you get back.
