Re-entry

We returned from our incredible vacation early Friday morning. It was very enjoyable with some great family time and some quality relaxation time. This was the first time we had ever returned from a trip with a three day buffer like this. Normally we would return on a Saturday or Sunday night with the workweek staring us right in the face. This has made my re-entry most enjoyable (or at least not as painful as normal).

I was able to catch up on some things in the office on Friday as well as get unpacked and sort through the mail. That allowed us to relax a bit on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy the incredible weather we are experiencing. I told Connie last night that we need to schedule trips with a three day buffer at the end all the time.

Because this buffer, or margin existed for me, this reduced my stress level considerably. This just serves as a reminder that I need to look for ways to add this same margin into my schedule every day as well!

The Ethics Of Taking A Vacation

I just returned from a week-long vacation to Florida with my family this past weekend. It was a great time. Probably the best part of the trip for me was simply doing nothing. No bills to pay. No lawn to mow. No "to do" lists to review. Just being.

The reason this is so great to me is because I don't relax well when I am at home. It seems I always find something that "needs" to be done. I have been accused of not being a human "being" but rather a human "doing." This can have its advantages but I also view it as a weakness as I can get burned out. As a result, I love vacations because it helps me to get away from all that.

There are many who are so busy that they don't feel they can take a vacation. Or they fear that their business will suffer if they are away. They might even feel guilty for taking a vacation.

I recently read a very good article which actually makes the claim that it is our ethical responsibility to take a vacation. The article claims that taking time out to recharge your batteries will make you and your company better. I agree with the author. Now I need to practice it more often by finding more frequent down time in my life.