Have you taken a vacation this year?
Dr. Wilma Slenders, CDI.D, MSM, PCC
Perform better. Grow faster. Achieve more. | Board director | exec coach | strategic consultant | respectful disruptor| intn'l speaker
Have you taken a vacation this year?
This year I feel like I've been on vacation almost all the time, but didn't have any time off at all.
The covid19 crisis disrupted our usual vacation plans, as many others' were, and working from home became the new norm.
The crisis has had a significant impact on my business.
And, taking a true vacation sounds like a luxury when you’re trying to reinvent, restructure, and recover and grow the business.
But, I did it anyway.
Last week, I took a week off in the mountains. Many of you commented on the view from my deck and sent good wishes. Thank-you!
I'd like to say that I totally detached from work activities, but that wouldn't be true! I had some Zoom meetings booked that I needed to attend at the start of the week, but as the days went by, there was less and less focus on work and more on relaxing.
At the start, I felt guilty that I wasn't answering emails, making introductions, writing content, and generally being in work mode. As I started to decompress, I felt my frazzled, overloaded mind start to calm, start to cease its endless chatter about ‘should do’ and ‘need to do’, and start to live in the moment. I experienced the nurturing power of nature, slept until I couldn’t sleep any longer, enjoyed some physical work (building dry river rock beds), and watched the sunset and the stars come out.
Why am I sharing this?
The reason is that we often believe, that when we are in survival mode, and let’s face it, many of us are, that we shouldn’t take our eyes off the ball and should persevere and push through our feeling of overwhelm. We may even believe that we are weak if we take time off for ourselves.
I’m here to say that taking time off to calm down, rest, recover, and rejuvenate is an important element of self-care. Pushing ourselves to the limit, leading to breakdown, is not healthy for us or the people who surround us.
Sometimes we need to have that space to clear the mind and experience just ‘being’ rather than focusing on ‘becoming’.
Have you taken vacation this year? How was it? Did you manage to relax?
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1 年Wilma, thanks for sharing!
Luckily I was able to get away for a weekend with a group of ladies in August that I find to be a great source of positive power. We enjoyed the Shuswap and the weather was fabulous. I also fit a 10 day trip from Calgary to Vancouver Island with my family. I feel blessed to be in a Country where beauty is surrounding us and I didn't have to travel very far to feel a connection with nature.
Skilled relationship builder working with technical project members and production plant staff to roll out innovative concepts that enhance daily operations.
4 年No real vacation this year yet (just a few days off here and there or quick jaunt to the mountains). Working through the summer has made me realize how privileged we are in this country to take a break from day to day “operations”. My Bali trip was shifted to December, so should be able to R&R then. ??????
Clinic Coordinator/Administrative Assistant
4 年I am on vacation this week. But it doesn’t feel like a vacation. I have purposely not looked at work emails. I am hitting the links when I can. But being home, the chores, the pets, the cooking and cleaning as per...it’s clear to me that a resort on the water with no responsibilities other than to relax and decompress is the definition of ‘vacation’ to me. And while I have a few days left to take at Christmas, I know it will have to be ‘away’ from the ‘home office’ somewhere.
Co-Founder & Principal @ PSD+G | Strategic Growth Advisory
4 年While I have not taken our typical 2-3 week vacation that comes every summer - I've worked hard to get away for several long weekends - down in The County, on the water. Like everyone else - its so important to get the break for the mind, body & spirit - and and enjoy the simple things in life.