Going on holiday? No, but take some vacation

I dreamt of this image last night. I dreamt of being far from home. On a deserted beach. Maybe because as I write this I am supposed to be in Stockholm finishing off a long weekend treat which would have involved all of the good things that a city break has to offer plus going to my favourite shop in the entire world. (Swedish Tin since you have asked. Those that know, know). What this made me think about was how in these business-as-un-usual times it is vital for our well-being that we take annual leave.

It seems counter-intuitive that in these days of working from home that we need a vacation. Plus what is the point of taking holiday just to stay home? Stay with me reader and I will explain why I think it is essential.

First, there is nothing remotely normal about what we in the U.K. and other parts of the world are currently experiencing. Working from home maybe part of your weekly work schedule. But it is definitely not normal doing that whilst home-schooling children, having your liberty restricted to shopping for essential items and daily exercise and not being able to visit family and friends, whilst not knowing how long this is going to be our "new normal". Many of us don't respond well to uncertainty, particularly when we have no way to influence or control outcomes. What this can create therefore is an underlying (low-level) feeling of anxiety.

Second, we live in a hyper-connected world - which has enabled many of us to continue to work remotely with no issue - and which brings many benefits. Facetime, google hangouts, zoom, Teams have all become part of a daily lexicon to allow us to connect with family and friends. But this hyper-connectivity also does not allow us to disconnect as we used to in previous times, and there is definitely a temptation to become #covid-19 news junkies. Equally there is a temptation to keep on the laptop outside of core working hours. This can be easily done if your working space is not separate from other shared parts of your home. We need to shut off and have downtime.

Third, think of what was happening pre-Covid-19 and ask if you would have taken some time off over Easter and/or during the school holidays? If the answer to that is yes then you owe it to yourself to take some time off.

Strictly a stay-cation, quite literally you will be holidaying at home. In these different times let's change our view of what our holiday needs to look like. Let's do planning. Get your creative juices flowing. If your personal space allows it: change around where your furniture is - move the bed in the bedroom, switch around the sofa and chairs in the sitting room - it may make it seem like a different place. Build a den in an outside or inside space. Kids love this. Let them sleep there. (The current trend is spending 24 hours in a room. Not sure that that is for me but let's not rule out anything) How about teaching yourself how to make a new meal which you can serve at the end of the stay-cation?

Read. Re-read all the English books you had to do at school and ask your 16-18 year old self what they think. Read all those books that you promised yourself you would read one day. That day is now.

Perhaps make your holiday a specialist one. Usually these types of holidays are learning to paint in Tuscany or doing yoga in Portugal. You can do this by signing up to on-line courses. There are literally millions of "how to" videos on you-tube.

Pack your suitcase - get all your "best" clothes out and wear them each day.

Create a scrapbook or diary of your "holiday". It will give you a wonderful memory of this most unusual of holidays. What is absolutely essential is not to have access to work e-mails and/or calls. If this means you have to turn off your phone then do so. Now above all it is important to be present in your holiday, not replying to e-mails!

Holidays are ours to take and make. You owe it to your well-being and that of your loved ones to give yourself some time off from work.

My planning continues. I have already started my browsing for my day off this week when I will go on my virtual tour of Stockholm. After a trip to the Vasa museum, and a walk to the National Musuem, I will end up here.. . https://www.svenskttenn.se/en/ Given the money I have saved by not actually flying and staying in Stockholm, I believe I just may treat myself to an item or 3. Enjoy your holiday! Let me know where you end up going.