Productivity Tips from Past Vacations

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I have a tendency to always feel like I should be doing something…at all times.

“Isn’t there an email I can write back to?”

“I must have an article I’ve been meaning to read around here somewhere.”  

“Oh I’ll just straighten up my desk a bit — I have a few minutes.”  

This used to be the ongoing dialogue in my head most days, even on vacation. 

About five years ago, I went to Puerto Rico with my hubby for some much-needed rest and relaxation. I’d been having a bit of an overload beforehand and feeling like I needed to cut myself off from networking and being a social butterfly. So it came at the perfect time. 

We visited the resort where we got married 11 years ago now so it was nice to be back in a place we hold so close to our hearts. 

Typically, I would have been in a bit of an anxious mode, feeling like I was wasting time laying on the beach instead writing blog posts, guest posts for websites or brainstorming something. 

I know, it sounds crazy!

I think this is a problem a lot of entrepreneurs and busy professionals face. Whenever we have a few “free” minutes, we think we have to fill that time with something.  

In Puerto Rico, I learned that way of thinking is not productive or healthy.

Right now, when so many of the things we used to do are out of the question, that old feeling of pressure to be “doing something” can start to creep in. But you should resist that urge — and I have some tips for you about how to do it. 

Here are a few of the insights I learned over a few Pina Coladas and 85 degree days in the sun:  

It’s OK to think about nothing sometimes.

Wow — this was a tough one for me to grasp. Our first day on the beach, I started to revert to my usual panicked-"I’m not-doing-anything" ways. But I stopped and gave myself permission to clear my mind and not plan anything out, write a post in my head, think up a new course idea, or do anything else. I just relaxed. And it was amazing and rejuvenating. 

This one can be tricky, but being intentional about not thinking about your tasks is just as important and making time to plan. It’s all about balance. And right now, when balance between work and home life is so hard for lots of people, this is an especially important skill to work on. It gets easier with practice!

Airplane mode will set you free. 

My cell phone worked just fine in Puerto Rico but I needed to disconnect. I put my phone on airplane mode and only checked it a few times throughout the day. I didn’t constantly flip through Facebook, Twitter, email, and Instagram, like I normally would every few minutes (literally!). Instead of mindlessly staring at the phone, I was very purposeful about my intentions. I wanted to take a look, scroll through a bit, and get back to my life on the beach.

I’ve put this into practice back home and it’s worked really well for me. If social media is cutting into your after-work relaxation time, pretend you’re on vacation and turn airplane mode on. Ask yourself whether whatever content you’d see is worth interrupting your relaxation.

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Not every minute has to be filled with a “to-do.” 

On our last morning in paradise, we sat on our balcony overlooking the spot where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean come together. I remember thinking to myself, “Oh let me check Facebook for a minute to see what I’ve been missing.” But then I stopped myself. I thought — “there will always be time for Facebook. I’m sitting in a gorgeous location with the sun shining down and the warm breeze blowing palm trees right in front of me.” 

Sometimes you need to switch off “autopilot” and just enjoy the moment. Instead of jumping from task to task, stop and look around every so often.

Even if you don’t have gorgeous views, you can still take time to soak in the beauty of your surroundings. You can take a walk in your neighborhood and notice the flowers and trees, for example, or plan to do a mini five-minute meditation between meetings rather than check your phone. 

These small changes can make a big difference in your day. Not every minute of every day has to be planned out in order for you to be productive.

The reason my vacation five years ago was so crucial is that it plucked me out of my surroundings and showed me which of my habits weren’t contributing to my well-being.

While these challenging times are obviously very different from a vacation, there’s a similarity — we’re all waking up to things we want to change about how we’re living. The context for all those tasks of daily life have been switched around, which makes us more aware of how we spend our time. Whether it’s creating an environment to be spontaneous with your family or making time for your goals, the COVID-19 pandemic is showing us what’s really important.

Just like a vacation changed my point of view and helped me make some much-needed new habits, you can use this time to take stock of your productivity style and begin to build the life you want.

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