The Value of Vacation

I have finally learned the value of vacation and real down time.  Every year, my husband and I take a vacation to St Lucia for 7 nights.  We are #offthegrid – no phone, no laptop, no contact, only a journal to capture my thoughts and ideas.  For me, as a reformed workaholic , it is a chance to recover, rejuvenate, reconnect to myself, my spirit, my dreams, my life in the most yummy and beautiful way I have experienced.  At first, I was anxious for the first 3 days detoxing from the constant internet connectivity with work and friends.  Now, I happily work until midnight and close my laptop and disconnect and have a shot with my husband, declaring myself on vacation.  The next day before dawn we head to the airport and don’t look back.  We stay in a private villa with a few friends and a cook/housekeeper.  Every morning I swim before breakfast, we have coffee on the veranda overlooking the ocean, we move at a slow pace, we do one thing a day – shop, beach, dinner in town, massage by the pool, a jazz concert…. You get the picture.

This was a big step for me who never stopped working.  Even on family vacations, I would work in the early morning while everyone was asleep and then play.  I was always postponing and waiting for a better time or more money or something intangible before I felt like I could take a break.  I missed out on a lot.

I can’t express the need to check out of your daily routine periodically and take a break to enjoy life.  Those of you who are entrepreneurs or organizational leaders know how hard it is to do.  And those who have learned how to check out every so often, know the value.  Here are a few words:  sleep, rest, rejuvenation, relaxation, destress, fun, play, letting go, ….

I often come back with one day of down time before jumping back on the saddle, into the fray, and getting back in the mix.  But as I do so, I feel loved up, rejuvenated, rested and ready to get back #onthegrind, #inthehustle, and #allofthat.

All I can say is try it.  Find a beautiful place and time to go #offthegrid and see what happens.