You Need a Vacation!

How do you go on a vacation?

Wait. What?

Do I really need to write a blog about how to go on vacation? Why’s that? Oh, that’s right, because we typically suck at it.

Americans are crazy. We work crazy hard and we are crazy devoted to our crazy customers. We have crazy fears that whisper in our ears, making it difficult—if not impossible—to enjoy a simple family trip. Ah, the good old days when life was simpler. The family loaded off in the woodie and, just like that Norman Rockwell picture, headed for the sandy shores, leaving everything behind...especially work.

Now, however, there is no end to the day. We check our e-mail messages all night, first thing in the morning and on weekends, certain that if we don’t there will be consequences. Going on vacation is something that we agree to but then quickly start thinking about how we can covertly stay in touch. We kid ourselves that we can work on vacation, that it’s best if we do, that we have to. Or else.

But it doesn’t work out that way. Case in point...

Planned itinerary for typical vacation day:

• Wake up to breakfast, coffee, newspaper, conversation with family
• Go for a walk to get exercise
• Shower
• Grab a book and head to the pool or beach
• Apply some SPF 45, sit back with a cold drink, read a novel or listen to music
• Bake in the sun
• Drinks and dinner followed by a family game of Scrabble
• Surprised at how tired you are, get to sleep early

Actual itinerary for typical vacation day:

• Wake up to e-mails found on your smartphone
• Skip breakfast
• Tell your spouse you’ll go for a walk later
• Skip the shower
• Call to check in
• Feel the results of checking in: get stressed/feel guilty
• Head to the beach, forgetting the SPF 45
• Bake in the sun while your mind races with thoughts about work
• Call to check in
• Drinks (alone) and dinner (reheated) while your family plays Scrabble
• Surprised at how mad your spouse is
• Sleep on the couch while promising yourself tomorrow will be different

Sound familiar?