I am so checked out. And it is amazing.
At times in my life I haven’t been great at vacation. You know, the whole unplugging from work and life part.
I worked in public relations for many, many years and often whatever project I was working on seemed so important, it was impossible to unplug. I’ve always been very efficient and I could crank out an hour of email, do a strategic conference call, even press interviews and barely miss a beat. Working when the kids were younger and napping, getting up early, or squeezing a few quick emails on my phone were all often part of my vacation game. I would actually take pride in my dedication, commitment to my team and executives, and ability to juggle, juggle.
But I was so silly. Now, I know my team was capable of doing great work without me for a week. I set a terrible example of work/life balance. And at the end of the day, none of the very important projects mean as much to me as a lifetime of great memories. Luckily, I was enough in balance to really enjoy my time regardless. But I wish I would have eased up. Realized top executives check out and vacation. And research shows that everyone on earth returns from vacation more energized, more focused, and more ready to contribute.
And then the life stuff. So much time during the day to schedule doctor appointments, plan birthday parties, or other important tasks that hadn’t quite gotten done. Such a feeling of accomplishment to check things off the to-do list! Stolen moments that could be so productive!
But those days are over.
I now appreciate a good ole’ vacation. A real vacation. A vacation without email, without checking in, without even thinking about life stuff.
This vacation – I’m kind of nailing it!
No work email (even though there is plenty). No life stuff (even though there is plenty). No home remodel stuff (although we are in the home stretch and each week is precious). No deep thinking.
Just fun. Family time. Sun time. Bliss.
Right now my oldest daughter and I are lounging on couches in our vacation home rocking out to music. Chatting between sentences as I type. I’m really not focusing on this blog very much at all.
And it’s kind of awesome. Even though I love it.
Even my vacation books were chosen for pure check out time. Nothing thoughtful. Nothing self advancing. Just good books to get lost in. I typically bring 3-4 books for a week vacation and this time is no different. But they are all fiction. Chosen because they caught my eye or because they’re by a favorite author. Right now, I can’t wait to wrap up this blog and read the last 30 pages of the thriller I’m hooked into.
So, farewell blog, for the evening. I’m going to take my book, a nice glass of rose’, and plant myself on the porch swing overlooking the golf course. Enjoying the tunes from my DJ daughter.
Life is good. And once in awhile, checking out is a very good thing.
The Redefining 
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