I’m Glad I Took That Vacation. Take Yours.

I’ve always been a “staycation” advocate. Alright — I’ll be entirely honest, I really love to hang out in my home office and work. Personally, I have found that vacations away from home, can actually become stressful. There are routes to to decipher, planes to catch, maps to re-fold, thunderstorms (and hail) to contend with and new routines to master. (Might I add, leaving my trusted coffee maker behind).

However, these are not satisfactory excuses. We all need a break. We likely feel this deep in our bones.

Whether you can devote an entire month, a couple of weeks or just a couple of days, a break should become a priority. (Preparation is important.) Even if you qualify as a die hard “staycation” addict — there are advantages to planning a vacation away from your usual milieu.

Here are just a few:

• You’ll catch a glimpse of you. Somehow when your surroundings shift, you become “louder”. (What is that inner voice muttering?) With the ambient noise of your work life absent, you’ll hear yourself much more clearly. Trust me, your work will benefit from this kind of clarity. Knowing yourself is step one toward a healthy, and productive work life.
• Nature can take over. I am officially obsessed with changes in scenery. A new scene through my viewfinder, provided by the power of mother nature — recharges my mind (and soul) in a manner that I cannot even begin to describe. This time around I requested “a room with a view” (and got one) — Grand Traverse Bay was a breathtaking part of my morning routine. Work rarely entered my mind.
• Your metrics shift. It may take a couple of days to get into the groove — but, once over the hump — your days will be measured in a very different manner. The places you’d like to visit and the people you haven’t had the time to really connect with in ages, become your focus. Other priorities do begin to fade.
• Time slows. For the first time in quite a long while, the passage of time wasn’t quite as fast. Time away from work allows you the luxury of savoring the moment. My only regret? I wish the break lasted just a tad longer. Next year I’ll be sure to make the effort to extend the time frame.

I would love to hear your vacation experiences. Share them in comments.

Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is the Director of Thought Leadership at Kilberry Leadership Advisors, Toronto. 

Photo Credit: M. Gottschalk – Chateau Chantal Winery & Inn, Traverse City, Michigan, USA.