Should I go or should I stay?
Do you have mixed feelings about taking a summer vacation? So do we. Most of us in business, can’t help it. Terry and I are sort of looking forward to our summer vacation.
Didn’t you just come back from one?
I know some of you are saying, didn’t you just take a vacation to Hawaii? (That doesn’t count. That was our image consultants’ conference, not really a vacation.) Didn’t you spend a lot of time in Phoenix last winter? (Hush now, last winter was a long time ago.)
Feeling guilty? Moi?
So we are going for a great 10 day wilderness vacation to Canada’s Alberta Waterton Lakes and USA’s Glacier National Parks. (Yes, yours truly, the corporate image consultant is going hiking and almost camping. The cabin is very rustic.) But, why do we feel so gosh darn guilty? Could it be because there seems to be a lot of things to do in our business?
What about you?
Are you feeling too busy or guilty about taking time off, even if you’ve earned it. Well, get over the guilt and enjoy yourself because…
Your vacation is actually good for your organization
Recently I came across an article with10 great reasons why you should and need to take a vacation. For the good of your company… honest.
10 reasons why the business is better off without you for a while:
- Going on a vacation shows you are competent.
- No one is impressed if you don’t.
- Your team is motivated.
- Your team gets more productive.
- Being unavailable helps people develop.
- You will be more productive.
- You will prioritize better.
- You let other people be “important.”
- Your company benefits.
- You really do need a break.
How to free up your guilt
Click here to read the thought-provoking guilt-free article by Patty Azzarello in the Fast Company newsletter. After reading it you will not only feel better about taking your vacation, you’ll know how you’re actually helping your organization.
Something to talk about
As a benefit, your vacation will give you something to share in conversation when networking with your colleagues and clients. Instead of coming across as one of those watercooler martyrs who insist “I’m just too busy to take vacation”, you’ll appear to have a life and… Life is short so enjoy it. (Forward this blog post to any martyrs that you know, even your boss or HR department.)
PS – If you really can’t get away here is a spectacularly beautiful video mini vacation to the Canadian Rockies hidden gem Waterton Lakes National Park. Evocative music is “Dreamer” by Canadian singer/songwriter Jenn Grant.
Very nice post. I wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Thanks,
http://www.welovekohsamui.com/getting-to-kohsamui/
Hello,
Thanks for sharing your vacation experience and i think that was going amazing. Yes, i am agree with that “Life is short so enjoy it” and vacation will gives you something to share in conversation.
Thanks
http://www.waterton.ca/
Betty Ann, I remember you and your sisters well! WOW, a year of travel! Thanks for sharing your amazing experiences with us. You have given your boys a gift they will always treasure and remember.
Now it’s time to pack for our Glacier adventure:)
Hi Joanne and Terry – I met you in Jasper at Christmas in November in 2010 (we were the sisters in our grandma’s mink stoles!). I find your articles very interesting. The vacation one was good timing as my husband, my 2 boys (14 and 11) are in the process of “re-entering” the world after a one-year vacation. We went “round-the-world” (Europe, Africa, SE Asia, Australia/NZ and are rounding it off with a quick visit to Hawaii as we prepare to head home). Absolutely amazing trip and I’d encourage anyone to set a goal like this. My husband is a public-sector employee and his company has a “self-funded leave” program as do a lot of public sector jobs. It took a lot of planning, saving, sacrifices and delayed gratification (no far-away vacations for 10 years, driving old cars, etc.) but SOOOO worth it. We packed a lifetime of experiences into the past year.