Here is what a healthy work cycle looks like (day/week or year).
Create a vision
Assess your skills
Assess your resources
Attach a reward to a milestone
Make an action plan
Put actions into your calendar
Fine tune as you go
Reevaluate as you need to
Take breaks
Get complete, even if there is more to do
Rest
Play
Recharge
Make the plan for tomorrow
Most people are good at some of the above. Few people are good at all of it. And, most of us err on the side of the action plan and sacrifice the rest/play/recharge part. This has short and long term consequences. And here comes a much deserved vacation on the calendar. What? Doesn't it seem easier to just ignore it and keep working? You are not feeling effective and efficient again today, so you should probably double down and keep working. NOT! You work and you deal with the current consequences and then you take a vacation. REALLY!
These are odd times so you have some choices to consider about your vacation...
Get on an airplane and go somewhere
Do a local 'staycation', either at home or in a hotel
Stay with friends locally or travel to them
Take the kids or leave them with friends
Take the pets or board them
Swap houses
What else?
All of your choices have consequences, but I want to ask you to give up choosing to not take a vacation. If money is a concern, keep it close and cheap, but take the vacation. If travel is a concern, either take your bubble on the road or keep your bubble safe at home, but take the vacation. All work and no play, right?
All of your choices have consequences, but I want to ask you to give up choosing to not take a vacation.
The emotional, mental, physical, financial and spiritual toll of the past six months is high. The unknown about the future takes a daily toll. The weight on our marriages, relationships, friendships and families is real. We need a break. We need to relax. We need to do fun things. We need to remember that life is about more than work and avoiding getting sick. We need time to let go and process. We need to eat, drink, explore and just have a good time.
So I ask you, when is your next vacation? If it's not on the calendar, can I ask you to put it in? RIght now? I am on a ten day vacation now. I wrote this before I left. Take care and manage any numbing behavior, ok? Get help if you need it. Speak soon..
Sincerely,
Hans