August 28th, 2007
The Value of Vacation: Knowing It's Good For You
Despite having to sift through 3,000 spam emails and piles of junk direct mail, it's good to be home.
The one thing I love about vacation is that once you start to relax and enjoy it, you realize how very necessary time off really is.
When I take time off, I purposely do not bring a pen or paper. I don't let myself write anything, except perhaps my name on charge card receipts -- for the entire time.
This forces me to stop thinking about work: if I can't write about it, I don't need to think about it.
I'm then able to fully relax -- and enjoy blissful hours poolside reading and spending time with my family. More important, I come home feeling re-energized.
(The photograph isn't the a photo of where I vacationed, but it's close enough. From my hotel room, I could see the pool, palm trees, and lots of gorgeous blue sky. I had a wonderful vacation. I can't wait for the next one.)
The one thing I love about vacation is that once you start to relax and enjoy it, you realize how very necessary time off really is.
When I take time off, I purposely do not bring a pen or paper. I don't let myself write anything, except perhaps my name on charge card receipts -- for the entire time.
This forces me to stop thinking about work: if I can't write about it, I don't need to think about it.
I'm then able to fully relax -- and enjoy blissful hours poolside reading and spending time with my family. More important, I come home feeling re-energized.
(The photograph isn't the a photo of where I vacationed, but it's close enough. From my hotel room, I could see the pool, palm trees, and lots of gorgeous blue sky. I had a wonderful vacation. I can't wait for the next one.)
September 5th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
This is an interesting philosophy. I have actually found that sometimes I experience something more fully by stopping and imagining how I’d describe it in an article or fictional scene. Maybe the key is just letting yourself pay attention to your vacation, and making sure there’s a clear distinction between your work life and play life. Right?
September 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Angela,
Thanks for stopping by. I have found that it pays to take a “real” vacation. I shut down my office (this year, my son drew a “closed” sign for me), turn off the computer, and get out of my day to day routine by going somewhere that allows me to relax and do nothing.
So yes, I do draw a very clear distinction between my work life and my play life. I am amazed how much this re-energizes me.