Summer vacation began with a five-hour day in the office of ISFSI. Ensuring that I had moved as much from the “in-box” to the “out-box” only made sense as I strategized the days I would be spending with my toes in the sand, cold beer in my hand! I made a mental note of just how productive a Saturday work-day could be and vowed to my inner self that I would consider adding more of them to my calendar. The remainder of the day was spent loading two vehicles to the absolute max with every single item I considered essential for a week away from our home. Oh, least I forget, my two teenagers were mixed in there somewhere.
A four AM wakeup call Sunday morning prompted me and the kids to the road heading beachside for a week in Corolla, NC. We were vacationing with 23 of my family members to include brother, sister, step-sisters, step-brothers, mother and all the spouses and nieces and nephews that come attached to them. It was irrelevant that our check-in time wasn’t until 4pm, I was certain to have the best table at one of my favorite restaurants for lunch, a prime spot on the beach to start soaking up some sun. Moreover, I was determined to beat all the other later departures driving onto the two-lane peninsula which has been known to make a 15-mile stretch feel more like a 500-mile highway to hell.
As luck would have it, the restaurant was packed and the heat index was so off the charts! Consequently, I couldn’t fathom sitting Oceanside and apparently, I wasn’t the only person who had the bright idea to set her alarm clock at such an early hour. I spent the remainder of my day seeking any air-conditioned beach venue and working from my smart phone…I was determined to stay “caught up.”
Two-hours were then spent unpacking nine cars which included everything from sunscreen, beach towels, a variety of blow up pool floats, ice cream makers, a Rubbermaid tub of every spice known to man, a Brookstone automatic peanut dispenser (cussing under my breath as I unloaded it from my mother’s vehicle) and over seventy-five rolls of toilet paper (proving you can’t ever have enough). The list of unimaginable, “can’t live without it,” household essentials continued to be placed in their respective new home for the week. Certainly, NOW I would be able to kick up my feet and enjoy my much-deserved vacation.
I have believed myself a woman of considerable self-discipline. I have been wrong as I spent the next six days answering every single email, tackling as many “to-do’s”, attending multiple conference calls including a board meeting, and staying on task with all my open projects. Sure, I spent some time at the beach and the pool; however, my computer was only a few feet away from me at any given moment and my Apple iPhone X was always in hand. I woke up six-days later and realized that I have only a handful of summers left to spend with my children; and sadly, I had squandered away this one.
Finding the balance for mind, body, spirit is and will most likely always remain one of the cherished and sought-after wonders of the world. Countless self-help books have been written about it, talk show hosts like Dr. Phil are making a living off talking about it, and friends on social media often proclaim their magic remedy for it. The reality is that some of us are genetically wired to be in a constant battle over the effective balance of the three. In most cases, we are inclined to suppress our individual values in favor of our loyalties to those who write our paychecks. The reality is simple; employees will have greater productivity if they are encouraged to find the balance between mind, body and spirit. And as supervisors we should be establishing a culture that accomplishes just that, starting with ourselves. Leading by example in striving for the balance is healthy for those we serve.
As we seek to disconnect ourselves from work-life and/or encourage our greatest assets (our employees) to do so, consider the following pieces of advice when you plan your next vacation:
Set your email vacation notification: Setting your email notification to vacation mode with a simple message that you’ll be unavailable to respond for a clearly defined period-of-time will ensure that those you are responsible for serving aren’t feeling neglected. It addresses their expectations of a response and provides the parameters that you’ll be attentive to their needs upon your return.
Leave the phone behind: Don’t panic, it will be there when you get back! Setting personal guidelines for when you’ll check for phone calls and messages will liberate you. You’ll still feel connected, but will have the freedom to enjoy quiet times with loved ones without constant attention to a ring tone. Remember, it wasn’t so long ago that we functioned perfectly normal without a phone in our hand.
Social media can wait: Stay away from ALL social media for the duration of your vacation. Who cares what your 1,458 friends are doing. What you should be aware of is how you’re spending your valuable time. Social media has become so addictive that our obsession with “checking” it has superseded our ability to listen to the quiet. By walking away from social media for the duration of your vacation you are essentially purging your body of the addiction.
Clear the calendar: If you’re on vacation then the only thing on your calendar should be vacation. Otherwise, you’ve simply relocated your office for a week. Don’t schedule conference calls or project due dates that coincide with your vacation days. Leave that time as flexible as possible to capture and enjoy the memories you’re making.
Bury the guilt: Believe it or not the world will survive while you’re enjoying some time away. Give yourself the freedom to be in the moment and not mentally somewhere else. Don’t feel guilty for stepping away from the office and into your vacation.
Learn the lessons: Commit to the self-discipline to pause each evening, consider the day, and learn the lessons your journey conveyed. Then pledge to make the changes that will make you more fulfilled into the future. This will benefit you, your family, your friends and those you serve.
The lesson learned for me this past week is that no man or woman ever said, “I sure do wish I could have worked a little harder on my vacation” as their dying words. From now on, I will disconnect from work and connect with those I love and support me. For who knows how many more summers I will have left to do so?